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Hiotographic 

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1  2  3 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

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No.  485.     Mezzotint  Portrait  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


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i 


MAP 


OP 


LAKE  GEORGE. 

Showing  the  principal  pointG  mentioned  in  the  Text 
of  Roger's  Journals.  The  soundings  (in  fathoms),  are  as 
given  in  the  map  of  Capt.  Jackson,  as  surveyed  in  1756. 

REFERENCES. 


r«N*  -t 


A.  Fort  Ttconderoga. 

B.  Part  of  Lake  Champlam. 

C.  Falls  in  Outlet. 

D.  Prisoner's  Island. 

E.  Anthony's  Nose,  (formerly  "  French  Point.") 

F.  Sabbath  Day  Point. 

G.  Bosom  Bay. 

H.  Sugar  Loaf  Mountain. 

I.    Northwest  Bay,  (formerly  "  North  Arm,  or  Can- 

kusker  Bay.") 
J.  Tongue  Mountain. 
K.  Shelving  Rock :  First  Narrows. 


L.  Roger's  Slide. 
M.  Basin  Bay. 

N.  Bolton,  (modern  Village.) 

O.  O.    South    Arm,    or    Takundawide     Bay,     (Vah 
Wormer's  and  Sand  Bays  and  on  modern  Maps,) 
P.  Dunham  Bay. 
Q;_Long  Island. 
R.  French  Mountain. 
S.  Diamond  Island. 
T.  Fort  William  Henry. 
U.  Cal4well,  (modern  Village.) 


'^ 


\ 


H. 


fii 


REFtRiiNCES. 

A    Dave  del  Roches  fcudu», 

B  The  Narrows. 

C   Button  Mould  Bay 

D   IStonc  {Quarries. 

E   Beavcf  Creek 

1'  Otter  Creek. 

G  Crown  Point. 

H   West  Bay. 

I   Pt.  *a  U  Chcvelure. 

J   Half  Way  Brook. 

K.   Fort  Ticonderogt. 

L  Falls  in  Outlet  of  Lake  George, 

M  Sabbath  Day  Point. 

N   Point   Pleasant. 

O   North  Arm. 

P   First  Narrows. 

Q  Long  Island. 

R  South  Arm. 

S  Diamond  Island. 

T  Fort  William  Heiry:  (afterwards  Fort 

George). 
U  South  Bay. 

V  Mouth  of  Wood   Creek,    (afterwards 

Skenesboro',  and  now  Whitehall.) 
W  Narrows   between  two   perpendicular 

Rocks. 
X  Drowned  Lands  called  by  Indians  Ond- 

eri-guegon,or  the"  cooflux  of  waters."* 

Y  East  Creek. 
Z  Wood  Creek. 


/ 


MAP 


OF    A   *ART   of 


LAKE    CHAMPLAIN. 


Traced  from  William  Brassier'.  M«p,  baRd  upon  lorTey.  made  by  ora«r 
•f  Gen.  Amherst,  and  pdb.ished  in  176*. 


mmaaesacaa 


) 


\ 


R  South  Arm. 

S  Diamond  Iiland. 

T  Fort  William  Henry  :  (afterwar 

George). 
U  South  Bay. 

V  Mouth  of  Wood   Creek,    (afterw 

Skenesboro*,  and  now  Whitehall. 
W   Narrows  between  two  perpendicu 

Rocks. 
X  Drowned  Lands  called  by  Indians  Ond 

eri-guegun,ur  the"  cooAux  of  waters.' 

Y  East  Creek. 
Z  Wood  Creek. 


MAP 


OP   A   1?ART   OF 


LAKE    CHAMPLAIN. 


raced  from  William  Brassier's  Map,  bated  upon  surveys  made  by  orJer 
en.  Amherst,  and  pdb.isi^ed  in  176X. 


ff» 


«■ 


ll' 


|The    most    a 
Continent, 


JOURNALS 


OF 


MAJOR    ROBERT    ROGERS: 


^ 


containing 

an  account  of  the  several  excursions  he  made 

under  the  generals  who  commanded  upon 

the  continent  of  north  america, 

during  the  late  war  j 

From  which  may  be  Collected 

The    most    Material   Circumstances   or    Every   Campaign   upon    that 
Continent,  from  the  Commencement  to  the  Conclusion  or  the  War. 

WITH  AN  INTRODUCTION  AND  NOTES, 

And  an  Appendix  containing  Numerous  Documents  and  Papers 
Relating    to  tkk    Doings  of    Major  Rogers  while  Com- 
manding    at    MiCHILIMACKINACK,    in    1767;     AND     HIS 

Conduct  in  the  early  part  of  the 
Revolutionary  War. 


By  franklin  B.  HOUGH. 


I  i 


ALBANY : 

JOEL  MUNSELL'S  SONS. 
1883. 


^, 


R 


2^ 


-/ 


t.  L 


■y-iu 


INTRODUCTION. 


I  I 


M 


The  Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,  giving  the 
details  of  his  services  as  a  partizan  officer  in  the 
French  and  Indian  war  of  1755-60,  have  been  very 
generally  regarded  as  forming  a  work  of  unquestion- 
able historical  value.  The  volume  does  not  profess 
to  be  in  any  sense,  a  general  history  of  the  events  of 
that  war,  nor  a  connected  account  of  the  military 
operations  of  a  particular  frontier  ;  but  simply  a  nar- 
rative of  what  he  himself  saw  and  did,  with  here 
and  there  a  brief  allusion  to  the  doings  of  others, 
where  they  seemed  in  some  way  to  have  had  relation 
to  his  own.  Being  evidently  written  with  a  view  of 
promoting  his  own  military  reputation,  as  he  may 
have  doubtless  felt  that  he  de&erved,  it  would  be 
surprising  if  he  had  been  uniformly  as  fair  in  his 
account  of  others  as  of  himself,  or  if  his  narratives 


4     Journals  of  Major  "Robert  Rogers. 

were  in  all  respects  such  as  another,  as  well  ac> 
quainted  with  every  fact  and  circumstance,  and  with- 
out personal  motives,  would  have  written.  An 
author  in  describing  his  own  acts,  does  not  naturally 
seek  to  expose  his  own  errors,  nor  always  to  conceal 
those  of  others ;  nor  can  we  expect,  in  scenes  and 
circumstance '  like  those  which  our  author  describes, 
that  no  jealousies,  or  rivalries,  or  disappointments 
were  encountered,  that  mighk  sometimes  influence 
his  conduct,  and  show  themselves  in  his  writings. 
Such,  upon  several  occasions,  will  be  noticed  by  the 
careful  reader  of  his  Journals  nor  should  they  be  re- 
garded as  exceptional,  in  publications  of  this  class, 

where  the  exploits  of  the  written  form  the  principal 
theme. 

The  general  tenor  of  the  narrative,  and  details  in 
abundance,  are  however  well  verified  by  independ- 
ent authorities,  and  justify  the  belief  that  the  accounts 
of  services  here  given,  are  in  the  main  reliable,  and 
that  the  work  fairly  presents  the  condition  of  affairs, 
as  they  existed,  and  the  events,  as  they  occurred,  in 
the  time  and  manner  described. 

In   annotating   this    work    for  a  new  edition,  no 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     5 

attempt  has  been  made  to  supply  the  links  in  the 
chain  of  events  which  the  author  omitted  ;  but 
simply  to  illustrate  by  citation  and  reference,  such 
passages  and  allusions  as  appeared  to  admit  of  anno- 
tation or  enlargement,  from  such  sources  of  infor- 
mation as  came  within  our  reach. 

The  incidents  in  the  early  life  of  this  partizan 
soldier,  are  for  the  most  part  lost ;  but  from  his 
own  statement,  the  rude  and  rugged  hardships  of  a 
frontier  settlement,  were  of  such  a  character  that  he 
could  hardly  avoid  gaining  a  thorough  practical  know- 
ledge of  the  manners,  customs  and  language  of  the 
Indians  near  whom  he  was  reared,  and  a  general 
acquaintance  with  the  wild  and  hardy  forest  life  of 
the  pioneers.  He  mentions  the  twelve  years  that 
immediately  preceded  the  war  in  which  he  served, 
as  full  of  hardships,  and  particularly  well  calculated 
to  qualify  him  for  the  arduous  duties  of  the  service 
in  which  he  engaged. 

Of  the  ancestry  of  this  celebrated  Ranger  we 
have  few  details.     He  was  the  son  of  James  Rogers' 


\    I 


f 


I  !       ! 


'  Major  Roger's  father  perished  in  a  very  singular  manner.     Mr. 
Rogers  was  going  to  a  hunter's  camp,  in  order  to  invite  some  gentle- 


6     'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 


originally  from  Ireland,  or  of  Irish  descent,  and  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Dunbarton,  now  in  Merrimack 
county.  New  Hampshire,  first  known  as  "  Starks- 
Town."  The  settlement  of  this  town  began  some 
years  before  1746,  but  at  what  time  cannot  now 
be  ascertained.  Robert  Rogers  was  born  in  Lon- 
donderry, N.  H.,  (or  Methuen  Mass.),  in  1727,  and 
was  probably  fourteen  or  fifteen  years  of  age,  when 
his  father  began  a  settlement  in  the  wilderness. 
From  his  youth,  he  was  inured  to  the  hardships  of 
the  frontier,  acquiring  that  character  of  decision, 
self-reliance  and  boldness,  which  distinguished  him 


men  who  were  making  surveys  to  dine  with  him.  The  hunter, 
[Ebenezer  Ayer  of  Haverhill,  Mass.]  saw  him  approaching  through 
the  bushes  at  a  distance,  and  not  expecting  a  visit  from  others  than 
wild  animals,  fired  upon  him,  mistaking  him  for  a  bear,  and  killed 
him  on  the  spot.  It  is  reported  of  Major  Rogers,  that  while  in  Lon- 
don after  the  French  war,  and  in  company  with  several  other  persons, 
it  was  agreed  that  the  one  who  should  tell  the  most  improbable  story 
or  the  greatest  lie,  should  be  exempt  from  paying  his  fare.  When  hit 
turn  came,  he  related,  that  his  father  was  shot  in  the  woods  of  Ame- 
rica by  a  person  who  supposed  him  to  be  a  bear;  and  that  his  mother 
was  followed  several  miles  through  the  forest  by  hunters,  who  mistook 
her  track  for  that  of  some  animal.  It  was  acknowledged  by  all,  that  he 
was  entitled  to  the  prize,  although  he  had  told  nothing  but  the  truth. 
Farmer  and  Moore^s  Hist.  Coil.,  i,  240,  In  the  memoir  of  Gen.  John 
Stdrk  by  Caleb  Stark,  (i860)  the  details  of  this  singular  accident  are 
related.      Memoir  and  Correspondence  of  Cen.  Stark,  p.  386. 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,     7 

in  after  life.  He  was  six  feet  in  statute,  well  pro- 
portioned, and  one  of  the  most  athletic  men  of  his 
time,  well  known  in  all  the  trials  of  strength  and 
activity  among  the  young  men  of  his  vicinity,  and 
for  several  miles  around.' 

Of  his  entrance  into  the  military  service,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-eight  years,  and  his  perilous  adventures 
until  the  final  surrender  of  the  French  posts  in  the 
West,  ample  details  are  given,  mostly  from  his  own 
pen,  in  the  following  pages.  His  name  and  fame 
appear  to  have  become  familiar  throughout  the 
country,  and  in  both  armies  ;  and  in  a  military  point 
of  view,  his  services  must  be  regarded  as  of  the  first 
importance  to  the  British  cause.  The  brutal  warfare 
of  his  day,  resulting  from  a  century  of  murderous 
invasion  and  vindictive  reprisal,  had  grafted  upon 
*he  system  every  custom  that  was  horrid  and  barbar- 


'  Potter'' s  Hist,  of  Manchester,  p.  488.  Caleb  Stark's  Memoir  of  Gen. 
yohn  Stark,  p.  387. 

An  engraved  full  length  portrait  of  Major  Rogers,  was  published  in 
London,  in  1776.  He  is  represented  as  a  tall,  strong  man,  dressed  in  the 
costume  of  a  Ranger,  with  a  powder  horn  slung  at  his  side,  a  gun  resting 
in  the  hollow  of  his  hand  arm,  and  a  countenance  by  no  means  pre« 
possessing.     Behind  him  at  a  little  distance,  stand  his  Indian  followers, 

Parkman's  Pontiac,  i,  1 64. 


I 


ir  ! 


■-  —  -1' 


8     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 

ous.  Each  of  the  nationalities  then  contending  for 
the  mastery  of  the  Continent,  had  brought  to  its  aid 
the  cunning  and  cruel  Savage  ;  had  taught  him  the  use 
of  arms  more  destructive  than  his  native  weapons, 
and  had  stimulated  his  passions  by  every  art  and 
motive,  until  humanity  to  the  wounded,  or  mercy  to 
the  captive  were  unknown ;  and  if  the  prisoner  escaped 
the  ocalping  knife  and  the  stake,  he  was  led  off  into 
a  captivity  often  worse  than  death. 

Through  "scenes  of  peril  and  danger  which 
threatened  every  step,  our  partizan  soldier  passed 
without  serious  harm  j  but  we  can  scarcely  believe 
that  the  attractions  of  home,  or  the  ease  of  private 
life,  had  many  charms  for  him,  when  the  war  was 
over,  and  not  an  enemy  could  be  found  throughout 
the  length  and  breadth  of  the  Continent,  which  the 
ivinning  Government  found  it  necessary  to  repress. 

Nor  is  there  room  for  doubt,  but  that  amidst  the 
scenes  of  bloodshed  of  which  he  witnessed  so  much, 
and  took  so  active  a  part,  the  finer  sensibilities  of 
humanity  were  lost  in  moments  when  expediency  or 
policy  dictated  to  the  contrary  ;  for  in  the  reports 
•  made  immediately  upon  his  return  from  a  scout,  we 


'  These 
Rogers,  b 
the  fourth 
as  notes  — 
the  New  ' 

*  Mrs.  J 
command: 

'  Seige 
Scries,  No, 


iffiraa 


T 


•i    ' 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     9 

find  it  mentioned,  that  he  had  scalped  the  dead  within 
sight  of  a  French  garrison,  and  murdered  a  prisoner 
when  too  badly  wounded  to  march.* 

Major  Rogers  married,  but  at  what  period  is  un- 
known, a  Miss  Elizabeth  Browne,  or  as  some  ac- 
counts give  it,  Elizabeth  Furness,  of  Portsmouth. 
She  obtained  a  divorce,  and  afterwards  married  Capt. 
John  Roche,  or  Roach  of  Concord.' 

In  the  troubled  times  which  preceded  and  attended 
the  seige  of  Detroit,  by  Pontiac,  in  1763,  Major 
Rogers  was  sent  with  a  body  of  troops  to  the  relief 
of  that  garrison,  and  he  assisted  in  the  sortie  upon  the 
occasion  that  Captain  Dalyel  was  killed. 3 

After  the  surrender  of  the  western  posts,  Rogers 
engaged   in  an   expedition  against   the  Cherokees  in 


*  These  stati*ments  were  omitted  in  the  volume  published  by  Major 
Rogers,  but  appear  over  his  own  signature,  in  the  Journals  printed  in 
the  fourth  volume  of  Documentary  History  which  we  have  introduced 
as  notes  —  the  originals  being  found  among  Johnson  Manuscripts  in 
the  New  York  State  Library. 

*  Mrs.  Rogers  appears  to  have  been  living  with  her  husband,  when 
commandant  at  Michilimackinac,  in  1767.  Roach  died  May  11, 
18 1 1. —  Bouton^s  Hitt  of  Concord,  p.  351. —  Stark's  Memoirs,  p.  389. 

*  Seige  of  Detroit,  edited  by  F.  B.  Hough  (Munsell's  Historical 
Series,  No.  IV),  p. 


I  o  Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 


\  I 


F.I'. 


the  south  under  the  orders  of  General  Grant,  but  no 
details  of  this  enterprise,  have  come  to  our  notice  : 
and  on  leaving  the  service  he  was  retired  upon  half 
pay.  His  accounts  appear  to  have  been  embarrassed 
from  vvrant  of  vouchers,  so  that  it  was  not  until  1763, 
that  he  secured  a  settlement  with  the  Provincial 
Government  of  New  Hampshire,  for  services  rendered 
eight  years  before."  The  trouble  that  he  encountered 
in  adjusting  these  claims,  appears  to  have  arisen 
from  a  negligent  habit  in  the  keeping  of  accounts, 
and  probably  in  some  degree  from  the  death  of 
persons  whose  living  testimony  would  have  sustained 
his  claims. 

Not  long  after  this,  Rogers  went  to  England,  to 
present  his  claims  for  accounts,  and  while  there,  pub- 
lished the  work  which  we  now  reproduce.  The  title- 
p.^ge  of  the  original  edition  shows  that  it  was  printed 
for  the  author,  probably   on  subscription,'^  and  in  the 


'  See  appendix,  B. 

''Sold  by  J    Millan,  Bookseller,  Whitehall,  1765.     8vo,  pp.  237, 

In  1769,  this  was  republished   in   Dublin  by   R.  Acheson,  together 

with  the  account  of  Col.  Henry  Bouquet's  Expedition  against  the  Ohio 

Indians,  in  1764,  including  his  Negociations  with  the  Indians  relative 

to  the  delivery  of  Prisoners,  and  the  Preliminaries  of  Peace,  and  an  In- 


ogers. 


journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.    1 1 


;  i 


ant,  but  no 
our  notice  : 
d  upon  half 
embarrassed 

until  1763, 
;  Provincial 
ces  rendered 
encountered 

have  arisen 
af  accounts, 
he  death  of 
ive  sustained 

England,  to 
le  there,  pub- 
The  title- 
t  was  printed 
I,''  and  in  the 


8vo,  pp.  237- 

\cheson,  together 

against  the  Ohio 

e  Indians  relative 

Peace,  and  an  In- 


same  year  another  work, —  with  still  the  promise  of  a 
continuation,  which,  so  far  as  we  can  ascertain,  never 
appeared. 

The  other  work  published  by  Major  Rogers  in 
London  in  1765,  have  the  following  title : 

"  A  Concise  Account  of  North  America  ;  con- 
taining a  Description  of  the  several  British  Colonies 
on  that  Continent,  including  the  Island  of  Newfound- 
land, Cape  Breton,  &c.,as  to  their  Situation,  Extent, 
Climate,  Soil,  Produce,  Rise,  Government,  Religion, 
present  Boundaries,  and  the  number  of  Inhabitants 
supposed  to  be  in  each.  Also  of  the  Interior,  or 
westerly  Parts  of  the  Country,  upon  the  Rivers  St. 


troductory  Account  of  the  preceding  Campaign  and  the  Battle  of  Bushy 
Run.      Pages  x  and  218. 

A  condensed  anonymous  edition  of  Rogers's  Journals,  was  published 
by  Luthei  Roby,  at  Concord,  N.  H.,  in  1831.  (lamo,  pp.  276),  of 
which  the  editor  is  known  to  have  been  Caleb  Srark,  Jr.  The  title  of 
this  work  is  as  follows ; 

"  Reminiscences  of  the  French  War  j  containing  Rogers's  Expeditions 
with  the  New  England  Rangers  under  his  Command,  as  published  in 
London  in  1765  ;  with  Notes  and  Illustrations.  To  which  is  added 
an  Account  of  the  Life  and  Military  Services  of  Maj.  Gen.  John  Stark  ; 
with  Notices  and  Anecdotes  of  Officers  distinguished  in  the  French  and 
Revolutionary  Wars."  Of  this  volume,  the  abstract  of  Rogers's  Journals 
fills  132  pages  —  and  an  Appendix  36  more, —  the  remainder  being  de- 
voted to  the  Memoirs  of  G*"''  '^^  fohn  Stark. 


1 2   'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


iliii 


!  I 


Lawrence,  the  Mississippi,  Christino,  and  the  Great 
Lakes.  To  which  is  subjoined,  an  Account  of  the 
several  Nations  and  Tribes  of  Indians  residing  in 
those  Parts,  as  to  their  Customs,  Manners,  Govern- 
ment, numbers,  etc.  Containing  many  useful  and 
entertaining  Facts,  never  before  treated  of.  By 
Major  Robert  Rogers,  London:  Printed  for  the 
Author,  and  sold  by  J.  Millan,  Bookseller,  near 
Whitehall.     MDCCCLXV,  8vo,  pp.  264." 

In  the  first  of  these  publications,  the  author  an- 
nounced his  intentions  of  publishing  an  account  of  his 
travels  into  the  Cherokee  country  and  the  Southern 
Indians;  of  his  second  tour  into  the  interior  country, 
upon  the  Great  Lakes ;  and  of  the  Indian  wars  in 
America  since  the  year  1760  ;  together  with  correct 
plans  of  all  the  British  posts  upon  the  continent.  In 
the  second,  of  the  above  noticed  publications,  he  pro- 
posed to  issue  a  volume  containing  maps  of  the  several 
colonies,  and  of  the  interior  country  of  North  Ame- 
rica, "more  correct,  and  easier  to  be  understood  than 
any  yet  published."  The  price  of  each,  was  to  be 
^n  English  guinea,  but  so  far  as  we  are   informed, 


Major 
at  Mid 
Canada  I 
trading  p 

From 
trade  of 
northwes 
charge  of 
ment,  th 
responsib 
he  lost  n 
short,    V 
authority 
went  to 
charges o 
and  then 

'  The  fraj 
Munsell's  H 
to  form  a  p; 
from  May  6 

'  Letters 
January  25, 

3  See  App 


rs, 

»e  Great 

It  of  the 
iiding  in 
Govern- 
>eful  and 
3f.  By 
for  the 
er,    near 

thor  an 
int  of  his 
Southern 
country, 
wars  in 
h  correct 
lent.    In 
J,  he  pro- 
le several 
rth  Ame- 
tood  than 
k^as  to  be 
informed, 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.   1 3 

nothing  further  of  this  nature  appeared  under  his 
name,  relating  to  American  affairs.* 

Major  Rogers,  in  1766,  was  appointed  Commandant 
at  Michilimackinac,  which  after  the  conquest  of 
Canada  had  become  the  most  important  military  and 
trading  post  in  the  interior.' 

From  its  fine  location,  it  naturally  intercepted  the 
trade  of  all  the  country  beyond  it  to  the  west  and 
northwest,  and  as  there  was  no  Commissary  in  special 
charge  of  the  trade,  at  the  time  he  received  his  appoint- 
ment, the  office  of  Commandant  was  one  of  great 
responsibility,  as  one  also  of  rare  opportunity,  which 
he  lost  no  time  in  turning  to  his  own  advantage.  In 
short,  we  find  him  incurring  expenses  without 
authority,  drawing  orders  upon  the  Government  which 
went  to  protest  for  non-payment,  and  falling  under 
charges  of  a  design  to  plunder  the  Fort  he  commanded, 
and  then  desert  to  the  French  in  New  Orleans.^ 


'  The  fragment  of  a  Journal  of  the  Siege  of  Detroit,  first  published  in 
Munsell's  Historical  Series,  No.  IV,  in  i860,  they  have  been  intended 
to  form  a  part  or  the  proposed  work.  His  Journal  covers  the  period 
from  May  6  to  July  4,  1763. 

*  Letters  from  Gen.  Thomas  Gage  to  Sir  Wiliiam  Johnson,  dated 
January  25,  1767. —  Doc.  Hist,  of  H.  T.y  iv.,  837. 

3  See  Appendix  C. 


.   I. 


!';■ 


14  Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 

He  was  arrested,  and  brought  a  prisoner  to  Mon- 
treal, but  managed  to  acquit  himself  of  these  charges, 
and  in  1769  again  went  to  England,  where  he  was 
presented  to  the  King.* 

Major  Rogers  remained  abroad  on  this  second 
occasion  until  the  summer  of  1775,  and  from  one  of 
his  letters,  we  learn  that  he  was  for  a  time  in  the 
Algerine  service.  He  appears  to  have  become 
attached  to  the  soldier's  profession,  in  which  he  had 
had  so  long  an  experience,  and  for  which,  on  outpost 
duty  and  occasions  requiring  prompt  decision,  courage 
and  endurance,  he  had  shown  himself  eminently  well 
fitted. 

He  was  now  approaching  the  age  of  fifty  years  — 
a  period  of  life  at  which  the  judgment  matured  by 


'  While  in  England  at  this  time,  the  following  anecdote  is  related 
of  him : 

A  mail  coach,  in  which  he  was  a  passenger,  was  stopped  by  a  high- 
wayman en  Hunslow  Heath.  The  robber,  thrusting  a  pistol  through 
the  coach  window,  demanded  the  purses  and  watches  of  the  occupants. 
While  others  were  taking  out  their  valuables,  the  bold  American 
stranger  suddenly  seized  the  man  by  the  collar  by  main  strength,  drew 
him  through  the  window,  and  ordered  the  coachman  to  drive  on.  The 
captive  was  an  old  offender,  for  whose  apprehension  a  reward  of  £50 
Sterling  has  been  offered  by  the  Government. —  Stark't  Memoir,  p.  385 
Potter' t  Mancbester,  p.  489. 


u-,.  - 


SBgg 


yournals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,    1 5 

experience  operates  with  clearness,  and  the  physical 
powers  are  with  many  still  capable  of  great  achieve- 
ment. During  his  six  year's  absence,  his  native 
country  had  been  steadily  preparing  for  the  crisis  of 
the  Revolution  ;  and  although  absent,  we  may  well 
believe,  he  could  not  have  been  indifferent,  as  to  the 
tendencies  of  the  times,  and  the  probabilities  of  a 
conflict,  in  which  military  experience  would  be  sought 
and  valued,  and  ample  opportunities  afforded  for  pro- 
motion and  reward. 

As  to  his  preferences  at  this  time,  we  have  no  in- 
dication. His  long  associction  with  military  men  and 
affairs,  might  have  naturally  predisposed  him  to  regard 
the  Royal  cause  as  the  one  of  right,  as  well  as  the  one 
of  power,  and  his  long  separation  fi'om  family  and 
friends  of  early  life,  may  have  failed  to  inspire  him  with 
the  patriotic  impulses  then  filling  the  country  with 
enthusiasm,  and  hastening  it  to  organized  rebellion. 

Under  all  the  circumstances  of  his  case,  the  fact 
that  he  was  a  retired  half  pay  officer  of  the  British 
army,  that  he  had  for  many  years  taken  no  interest 
in  American  civil  affairs,  and  perhaps,  the  knowledge 
of  his  transactions  at  Michilimackinac,  appear  to  have 


(■■ 


iir 


1 6   "Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 

led  his  countrymen  to  distrust  him,  before  he  had 
declared  his  preference,  and  possibly  before  he  had 
formed  his  own  opinions.' 

Under  these  suspicions,  some  regarded  him  as  an 
enemy  in  disguise,  and  even  serving  as  a  spy,  while 
others  looked  upon  him  as  a  mercenary  soldier,  ready 
to  accept  the  highest  bid  from  either  party,  and  with 
no  principles  that  would  deter  him  from  selling  out 
his  opportunities,  if  it  could  be  done  with  probable 
success. 

At  any  event,  his  conduct  was  not  such  as  to  invite 
confidence,  from  the  time  of  his  first  arrival  in  the 
country,  until  his  preferences  were  publicly  declared. 
We  find  him  wandering  about  the  country,  without 
visible  employment,  or  plausable  pretext, — associating 
with  suspected  persons,  and  visiting  places  of  doubtful 
reputation, —  arrested  time  and  again  on  suspicion,  and 


(  Mr.  Stark,  who  afterw4rd8  became  so  efficient  in  the  American 
service,  and  who  had  shared  the  hardships  and  dangers  of  the  partizan 
service  with  Major  Rogers  in  the  war  of  i75;-6o,  visited  him  when 
at  Medford,  Mass  ,  in  December,  1775,  endeavoring  to  gain  an  inter- 
view with  Waiihinston,  and  expressed  the  belief,  that  if  Major  Rogers 
had  not  been  charged  with  disloyal  sentiments  before  he  had  expressed 
them  by  word  or  deed,  he  might  have  been  won  to  the  support  of  the 
Continental  cause. 


by  Lieut. 


s. 

he  had 
he   had 

1  as  an 
r,  while 
r,  ready 
nd  with 
ling  out 
)robable 

to  invite 
[  in  the 
leclared. 
without 
iociating 
doubtful 
:ion,  and 

e  American 
:he  partizan 
him  when 
in  an  inter- 
ajor  Rogers 
id  ezpreued 
tport  of  the 


i 


Jonrna/s  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.    17 

giving  his  parol  under  oath,  to  which  he  paid  no  re- 
gard,—  and  finally  when  confined,  escaping  to  the 
British  lines,  and  openly  accepting  a  commission  as  a 
partizan  officer  in  the  Royal  cause.  It  is  now  known, 
that  long  before  this  decision  was  openly  avowed,  lie 
had  tendered  his  servicee  to  both  parties  ;  and  that  be- 
fore he  in  writing  to  General  Washington  said,  "  I 
love  North  America ;  it  is  my  native  country,  and 
that  of  my  family,  and  I  intend  to  spend  the  evening 
of  my  days  in  it,"  he  had  pledged  the  wealth  of  hi 
talent  for  inroad  and  des'ruction,  to  the  commander- 
in-chief  of  the  British  army,  and  had  been  promised 
His  Majesty's  future  tavor.* 

His  services  as  a  loyalist,  were  short  and  inglorious. 
He  was  commissioned  with  the  rank  of  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Commandant,  to  raise  a  partizan  corps  to  be- 
known  as  the  keen's  Rangers ;  but  on  the  21st  of 
October,  1776,  his  party  was  surprised  at  Mamoranec, 
near  Long  Island  Sound,  a  part  were  captured,  and 
Rogers  himeelf  barely  escaped,  in  the  confusion  of 
the  encounter."     Not  long  after  this,  he  returned  to 


I  See  Appendix  D. 

'See  Appendix  E.     The  Sheens  Rangers,  were  afterwards  commanded 
by  Lieut.  Colonel   Simcoe,   subsequently  Governor   of  Upper   Canada. 


! 


!    '  ' 


1 8   'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogsrs, 

England,  where  he  died  about  the  year  1800.  He  is 
said  to  have  lived  a  wild,  improvident  and  extravagant 
life,  and  to  have  been  the  victim  of  bad  habits. 

Major  Rogers  was  banished  from  the  State  by  an 
Act  of  the  New  Hampshire  Legislature,  in  Novem- 
ber, 1778,  but  his  estate  was  not  confiscated,  as  was 
the  case  of  many  others. 

His  son  Arthur  Rogers,  lived  with  his  mother 
many  years  upon  the  family  farm  near  Concord,  and 
died  in  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  in  1841,  leaving  three 
children  of  respectable  standing,  in  San  Domingo. 

Long  after  the  death  of  Major  Rogers,  some  cor- 
respondence passed  among  those  who  were  seeking 
to  learn,  and  who  were  willing  to  inform,  concerning 
his  standing  and  character  in  the  community  where 
he  had  lived.  We  cheerfully  present  this  tribute  of 
friendship,  from  one  whose  good  opinion  might  well 
be  prized,  as  tending  to  show  that  the  wild  and 
rugged  traits  in  the  character  of  this  partizan  soldier, 
were  relieved  by  traces  of  softer  tone ;  and  that  among 
those  who  had  no  words  of  approval  for  the  final 
course  of  his  military  career,  his  memory  still  re- 
tained the  sympathies  of  a  friend. 

Concord,  July  16,  1842. 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.   19 

Dear  Sir;  I  have  made  some  inquiry  respecting 
Major  R.  Rogers,  and  among  our  oldest  inhabitants 
I  find  but  one  opinion^  respecting  his  character,  and 
that  is  fully  expressed  in  the  note  enclosed  to  me 
and  transmitted  herewith  to  you  from  Govenor  Hill. 

Mr.  Hill  has  perhaps  a  better  knowledge  of  Major 
Roger's  character,  as  an  officer,  than  any  other  per- 
son here ;  he  has  been  prompted  by  reasons  which 
could  not  have  operated  on  others. 

Respectfully,  your  Obedient  Servant, 

Robert  A.  Davis. 

Mr.  Charles  Coffin,  N.  Y.  City. 
"  Gen.  Robert  Davis. 

My   Dear  Sir :    1   have   this   moment    read   Mr. 
Coffin's  letter  addressed  to  you,  requesting  informa- 
tion in   relation   to   the   character  of  the   late    Maj. 
Robert  Rogers.     Having  recently  had   occasion  to 
make   inquiries  relative   to  his  early   history,  I  find 
nothing  in  the  region  of  his  birth,  that  goes  at  all  to 
discredit  him.     One  o^  the  last  of  liis  c'ood  relations 
in  this  vicinity  who  personally  remembered  him,  a 
lady,    died    about    a   year   ago.     From    her    mouth, 
through  Mark  Buinham,  Esq.,  a  native  of  the  same 


'  f;    1 


^   \';     ! 


I.,    i 


ill 


20  journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

town  with  Rogers,  I  derived  the  information  that  all 
the  family   were   proud   of  his   name,  and   were  re- 
luctant to  associate  it  with  a  reputation  that  was  not 
entirely   unsullied.     Maj.    Rogers    never    resided  in 
this  State   permanently  after  the  commencement  of 
the  Revolutionary  war.     He  was  in  the  British  service 
in  Canada,  after  the  close  of  the  old  French  war, 
partly  in  a  military  and   partly   in  a  civil   capacity. 
The  only  child   bearing  his  name  was  several  years 
under  my  care  as  a  guardian.     This  circumstance, 
among  others,  has  led  me  more  particularly  to  rriari^ 
the  character  of  the  celebrated  warrior.     I  consider 
him  to    have  been    one    of  the  most  talented  men  of 
the  country  —  perhaps  the  best  partizan  officer  this 
country  ever  produced.     I  believe  him  to  have  been 
the  author  of  thatiperfect  mode  of  attack  and  defence 
which  enabled  a  hundred  of  the  Rangers  to  do  more 
service  than  thousands  of  the  British  regulars,  espe- 
cially in  the  winter  service  of  the  old  war  of  1756, 

Such  safety  to  troops  on  fatigue,  amid  the  severest 
seasons  of  a  sever  climate,  was  never  cefore  secured. 

such  certainty  in  the  results,  either  on  the  advance 
or  .retreat,   perhaps  has   never  realised  by  any  other 


*        1  ! 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,   21 

force  than  the  Rangers,  under  the  perfect  arrangement 
and  discipline  invented  by  Rogers,  I  consider  him  to 
have  been  as  great  a  man  in  his  pecular  sphere,  as 
Napoleon  Bonaparte,  and  for  decision  and  firmness 
equal  to  Andrew  Jackson. 

Yours  truly 
Isaac  Hill." 


I 

t  ! 


4; 


I  ; 


i     II 


i 


ir 


The    Author's    Introduction. 


I  *  • » I 


It  would  be  offering  an  affront  to  the  public,  should 
T.  pre  end  to  have  no  private  views  in  publishing  the 
i  .  -/ing  journals  ;  but  they  will  excuse  me  if  I  leave 
therii  to  conjecture  what  my  particular  views  are,  and 
claim  the  merit  of  impartially  relating  matters  of  fact, 
without  disguise  or  equivcoation.  Most  of  those 
which  relate  to  myself  can  at  present  be  attested  by 
living  witnesses. 

And  should  the  troubles  in  America  be  renewed, 
and  the  savages  repeat  those  scenes  of  barbarity  they 
so  often  have  acted  on  the  British  subjects,  which 
there  is  great  reason  to  believe  will  happen,  I  flatter 
myself,  that  such  as  are  immediately  concerned  may 
reap  some  advantage  from  these  pages. 

Should   any  one  take  offence  at  what    they  may 
here  meet  with,  before  they  venture  upon  exhibiting 


a  charge, 
consider, 
attack  m 
soldier,  n 
things  he 
but  in  de 
hurries,  c 
depressioi 
of exhaus 
the  follov 
to  the  gei 
I  am  not 
very  grosi 
It  wou 
particular 
the'  I  coi 
dishonor  i 
with  my  i 
rences  as 
country, « 
the  servic 
particular 
received  i 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.  23 

a  charge,  they  are  desired,  in  favor  to  themselves,  to 
consider,  that  I  am  in  a  situation  where  they  cannot 
attack  me  to  their  own  advantage ;  that  it  is  the 
soldier,  not  the  scholar,  that  writes ;  and  that  many 
things  here  were  wrote,  not  with  silence  and  leisure, 
but  in  deserts,  on  rocks  and  mountains,  amidst  the 
hurries,  disorders,  and  noise  of  war,  and  under  that 
depression  of  spirits,  which  is  the  natural  consequence 
of  exhausting  fatigue.  This  was  my  situation  when 
the  following  journals  or  accounts  were  transmitted 
to  the  generals  and  commanders  I  acted  under,  which 
I  am  not  now  at  liberty  to  correct,  except  in  some 
very  gross  and  palpable  errors. 

It  would-  perhaps  gratify  the  curious  to  have  a 
particular  account  of  my  life,  preceding  the  war ;  but 
the'  I  could  easily  indulge  them  herein,  without  any 
dishonor  to  myslelf,  yet  I  beg  they  will  be  content 
with  my  relating  only  such  circumstances  and  occur- 
rences as  led  me  to  a  knowledge  of  many  parts  of  the 
country,  and  r.ended  in  some  measure  to  qualify  me  for 
the  service  I  have  since  been  employed  in.  Such,  in 
particular,  was  the  situation  of  the  place  in  which  I 
received  my  early  education,  a  frontier  town  in  the 


l-l' 


I  « 


24  Jonrnals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

province  of  New  Hampshire,*  where  I  could  hardiy 
avoid  obtaining   some    knowledge  of  the   manners, 
customs,  and    language    of  the  Indians,  as  many  of  j 
them  resided  in  the  neighborhood,  and  daily  conversed 
and  dealt  with  the  English. 

Between  the  years  1743  and  1755  my  manner  of] 
life  was  such  as  led  me  to  a  general  acquaintance 
both  with  the  British  and  French  settlements  in  North 
America,  and  especially  with  the  uncultivated  desert, 
the  mountains,  valleys,  rivers,  lakes,  and  several 
passes  that  lay  between  and  contiguous  to  the  said 
settlements.  Nor  did  I  content  myself  with  the  ac- 
counts I  received  from  Indians,  or  the  information  of 
hunters,  but  travelled  over  large  tracts  of  the  country 
myself,  which  tended  not  more  to  gratify  my  curi- 
osity, than  to  inure  me  to  hardships,  and,  without 
vanity  I  may  say,  to  qualify  me  for  the  very  service 
I  have  since  been  employed  in. 


'  Dunbarton,  originallcy  called  "Stsrkstown,"  was  granted  in  1751, 
by  the  Masonian  proprietors  to  Archibald  Stark,  Caleb  Page,  and 
others.  Settlement  was  begun  some  years  before  1746,  by  Joseph  and 
William  Putney,  James  Rogers  and  Obadiah  Porter.  It  is  included 
in  County  Merrimack,  New  Hampshire,  and  the  country  adjacent  be- 
pnges  to  tne  Abenaque  tribe. 


\^k 


Jonrnals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.   25 


About  this  time  the  proceedings  of  the  French  in 
America  were    such  as   excited  the  jealousy  of  the 
English,  especially  in  New  York  and  New  England  ; 
and  as  Crown  Point  was  the  place  from    which,  for 
many  years,  the    Indians  in    the  French  interest  had 
been  fitted  out  against  our  settlements  on  the  frontiers, 
a  design  was  formed  in  the  beginning  of  1755  to  dis- 
possess them  of  that  post ;  pursuant  to  which  troops 
were  levied  in  the  several  provinces  of  New  England, 
New  York,    and    New  Jersey.     The   general    ren- 
dezvous was  appointed  at  Albany  in    the  proinvce  of 
New  York,  and  the  troops  put   under  the    command 
of  Major  General  (since  Sir  William)  Johnson.'    I  had 
the  honor  of  commanding  a  company  in    the  troops 
furnished  by  the  province  of   New  Hampshire,  with 
which  I  made  several  excursions,  pursuant  to  special 
orders  from  the   governor  of  that    province,  on    the 
northern  and  western  frontiers,  with  a  view  to  deter 
the  French  and  their  Indians  from    making   inroads 
upon  us  that  way.     In  this  manner  I    was  employed 
till  the  month  of  July,  when  I  received  orders  to  re- 
pair to  Albany,  at  which    place  I    tarried  till  August 


i  ■  r  1 


'.(■ 


M     ■    i 


'  See  Appendix  (A). 


!'1 


26  journals  of  ^lajor  Robert  Rogers, 


26th,  and  was  then  ordered  with    100  men  to  escort] 
tha  provision  waggons  from  thence  to    the  Carrying- 
Place,  then  so   called,  since    Fort  Edward.     Here  I| 
waited    upon    the  General,  to  whom    I  was   recom- 
mended as  a  person  well  acquainted  with  the  haunts! 
and  passes  of  the  enemy,  and  the  Indian  method    ofj 
fighting,  and  was  by  him  dispatched  with  small  parties 
on  several  tours  towards  the   French   posts,  and  was 
on  one  of  these  up  Hudson's  River  on  the  8th  ofj 
September,  when  Baron  Dieskau  was  made  prisoner,] 
and  the  French  and  Indians  under  his  command  de- 
feated, at  the  south-end  of  Lake  George. 

The  24th  of  September  I  received  orderes  from! 
the  General    to  proceed  with    four  men  to  Crown 
Point,  and,  if  practicable,  to  bring  a  prisoner  from 
thence  ;  and  with  an  account  of  the  manner  in  which] 
I  executed  these  orders  I  shall  begin  my  Journals. 


'<'- 


UORGE,   not 


)iiP(^P(i0(ifiti^^t^f^^ 


iVflKSiA^i 


i^paa»aaBi^M3'^S^p 


f 


JOURNAL, 


.     ! 


September  24,  1755. 

Pursuant  to  orders  of  this  date  from  Major  General 

[ohnson,    Commander    in   Chief  of  the   Provincial 

^orces,  raised  for  the  reduction  of  Crown  Point,*  I 

jmbarked  with    four  men    upon   Lake   George,f  to 


*According  to  Wm.  Brassier's  map  of  Lake  Champlain,  published  in 

62,  Crown   Point,  or  Fort  St.  Frederick  was  called  by  the  Indians, 

ek-ya-dough-nigarigee,  which  signifies  "  Two  points  opposite  to  each 

er. "     The  opposite  point,  on  this  map,  is  called  the  "Dutch  Crown 

oint."     The  name,  "St.  Frederick,"  is  said  by  Kalm,  to  have  been 

liven  in  honor  of  Frederick  Maurepas,  French  Secretary  of  State,  in 
hose  hands  the  direction  and  management  of  the  Court  of  Admiralty 

vas,  at  the  time  of  its  erection. 

f  Lake  George  is  a  little  over  33  miles  long  and  nearly  4  miles  wide 

It  the    broadest   place  ;  it    is  321    feet    above  tide  water  and  225    feet 

|bove  Lake  Champlain  ;    the  whole  of  the  lake,  and  all  of  its   islands 

Duth  of  the  line  of  Essex  county,  lie  in  Warren  county,  the  east  bounds 

wh'ch,  are  by  statute  located  along  the  easterly  shore  of  the  lake. 

The  Iroquois  name  of  the    lake    was    Andia-ti-roc-te.     "  Where 

be  lake  shuts  itself."     The  French   called  it  "St.  Sacrament,"  which 

^as  given  it  by    Father  Jogue,  the  Catholic  Missionary,  in  1646,  from 

be  fact  that  he  first  came  there  on  the  festival   of  Corpus  Christi. 

The  English  name  of  Lake  George,  was  applied  for  the  first  time. 

Sir  William    Johnson,  who  in    a    letter  to  General    Shirley  undei 

»te  of  Sept.  I,  1755,  says, —  **    ^    ''"^^  given    the    name  of  Laki 

[eorge,   not  only   in  honor  of  this   Majesty,  but  to  assert  his   uo- 

]>ubted  dominion  here." — y ohnson  MSS.  ii,  199* 


iii;! 


•f^ 


28    'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

reconnoitre  the  strength  of  the  enemy,  and  proceed- 
ing down  the  lake  twenty -five  miles.     I  landed  on  the 
west  side,   leaving   two   men   in  charge  of  the  boat, 
while    I  marched   with  the   other  two  till   the  29th, 
when  I  had   a  fair  view  of  the  fort  at  Crown  Point, 
and   discovered  a  large   body    of  Indians  round   the 
fort,  and,  from  their  repeated  irregular  firing,  supposed 
they  were   shooting   at  marks   (a  diversion    much  in 
use  among  the   savages).     At   night  I  crept   through 
the   enemy's  guards   into  a  small    village  lying  south! 
of  the  fort,  and  passed  their  centries  to  an  eminence 
south-west  of  it,  from  whence  I  discovered  they  were 
building  a  battery,  and  had  already  thrown  up  an  en- 
trenchment on  that  side  of  the  fort.     The  next  day,] 
from  an  eminence  at  a  small  distance  from  the  former,! 
I  discovered  an  encampment,  which  extended  fromi 
the  fort  south-east  to   a    wind-mill,  at    about    thirty] 
yards  distance;  as  near  as  I  could  judge,  their  num- 
ber amounted  to  about  500  men  ;  but  finding  no  op 
portunity  to  procure  a  captive,  and  that  our  small  party! 
was  discovered,  I  judged  it  proper  to  begin  a  retreat! 
homeward  the   ist  of  October.     I    took    my    route! 
within  two  miles  of  Ticonderoga,  from  whence  I  ob- 
served a  large  smoke  to  arise,  and  heard  the  explosionl 
of  a  number  of  small  arms  ;  but  our  provisions  being! 
expended,  we  could  not  tarry  to  ascertain  the  numberl 
of  the  enemy  there.     On  the  2d  we  arrived  at  the' 
place  where  we  left  our  boat  in   the  charge  of  twc 
men,  but  to  our  great  mortification  found  they  werej 
gone,  and    no   provisions    left.     This    circumstancej 
hastened  us  to   the    encampment    with    all    possible] 
speed,  where  we  arrived  the  4th,  not  a  little  fatigued 
and  distressed  with  hunger  and  cold.* 


'"'The  "Journals  of  Sir  William  Johnson's  Scouts,"  printed  in  th| 
fourth    volume  Qi  the  Documentary    History  of  New  York,    give 
notice  of  several  of  the    expeditions  described  in   the  text,  lomewhaj 


'Journals  of   Major  Robert  Rogers.   29 


!| 


i 
1 


October  7,   1755.     I  received  orders  of  this  date 
from    General  Johnson,  to    embark  with    five  men 


different  in  some  cases,  and  more  fully  in  others;  for  which  reasons 
we  insert  the  mure  important  of  those  by  Capt.  Rogers,  as  notes.  In 
doing  this  we  have  not  attempted  to  follow  the  illiterate  orthography 
which  appears  in  some  c-ases,  and  have  ad>ipte(^  a  punctu.ition  and  divi- 
sion into  sentences  that  appeared  to  give  most  fully  the  meaning  of  the 
writers. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  the   dates    are  usually  some  ten  days  behind 
those  given  in  the    text, —  evidently  from  the  fact    that  the  Old  Style 
calendar  then  lately  adopted  in  England  and  English  colonies,  had  not 
I  as  yet,  come  entirely  into  use. 

According  to  this  authority,  the  party  here  noticed  in  the  text,  set  out 

on  the   14th  of  September, —  landed  about  daylight,  left  two  men  of 

I  Connecticut  in  charge  of  boats  and  provisions,  and  in  the  morning,  saw 

sundry  Indian  canoes  passing  in  the  lower  part  of  the  lake.     The  Journal 

I  then  adds  : 

"The  17th  day,  at   evening,  discovered  the  wheat    fields,  and  four 

houses,  about  two  miles  southerly    from  Crown   Point  fort.      In    the 

night  went  to  the  intrenchment,  made  from  the    fort,  encompasing  a 

I  little  hill,  the  trenches  not  finished,  but  reached  about  thirty  rods  from 

the  fort ;  which  intrenchment  begins  at  the  South-west  corner  of  the 

fort,  and  trends  south-westerly,  about  two  rods  wide  at  the   fort,  and 

widens  to  about  fifteen  at  the  other  end.     Went  into  the  trench,  and 

spent  the  night,  for  discovery  in  and  about  there  till  morning,  and  then 

[retired  to  a  Mountain  about  a  mile  west  from  the  fort,  where    (here 

was  a  clear  view  of  all  the  fort  and    appurtenances — and  saw    an 

[addition  to  the  fort,  from  the  North-west  corner,  about  twenty-five  rods 

[which  reached  to  the  water   side,  inclosing  some    buildings  —  many 

■  tents  were  set  up  in  it. 

A  wind  mill  about  sixty  rods  south  of  the  fort,  in  which  space 
jmany  tents  were  up  had  clear  discovery  of  the  fort  and  appurtenances; 
jthe  soldiers  were  mustered  and  exercised.  The  whole  of  French  and 
■Indians  we  judged  were  near  upon  five  or  six  hundred. 

Their  people,  some  few  were  at  work  at  the  intrenchments,  seemed 
lunconcerned  —  hunting  pidgeons,  etc.,  all  around  in  the  wood.     Some 
of  which   came  within  about  fifteen   rods  of  the  scout.     We  came  ofT 
the  hill  at  night. 

19th.  Set   homeward,   travelled   to  the  lake,  about  six   miles  from 
rionduroque. 

20th.  Set  up  the  lake,  to  where  we  left  the  Battoe,  found  that,  and 
ihe  two  men  (we  left)  were  gone,  and  we  set  homeward.  The  x^i 
^ate  at  night,  arrived  at  the  great  camp. 

The  land  is  rough  and  mountainous  from  the  lower  end  of  the  lake 


,.  il 


30  Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 


under  my  command  to  reconnoitre  the  French  troops 
at  Ticonderoga.*     Accordingly  I  proceeded  at  night 
to  a  point  of  land  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake,  where 
we  landed,  hid  our  canoe,  and  left  two  men  in  charge 
of  it.     The  next  day,  with  the  other  three,  I  marched 
to  the  point  at  Ticonderoga.  where  we  arrived  about  1 
noon.     I   here   observed  a  body  of  men,        '  h    1 1 
judged  to  be  about  2000  in  number,  who  ha^.  ..irown 
up  an  entrenchment,  and  prepared  large  quantities  of 
hewn  timber  in  the  adjacent  woods.      We  remained 
here  the  second  night,  and  next  morning  saw  themj 
lay  the  foundation  of  a  fort,  on  the  point  which  com-j 
mands  the  pass  from  Lake  George  to  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  and  the  entrance  of  South  Bay,  or  Wood  Creek. 
Having  made   what  discoveries  we  could,  we  beganl 
our  return,  in  which  we  found  that  the  enemy  had  a( 


to  Crown  Point.     The  distance  about  zo  miles,  and  we  apprehend  im- 
practicable to  get  a  feasible  road  there,  —  which  is  the  general  account! 
of  the  discovery  we  have  made." 

The  report  is  signed  by  Robert  Rogers,  dated  Sept.  r  J  trans-j 

mitted  to  Gen.  Johnson  by  Joseph  Blanchard  of  the  Nf  ipshirtl 

Regiment. — Doc.  Hist.  N.  Y.,  iv,  259. 

[In  citing  from  this  work,  in  this  volume,  the  octavo  edition  is  re- 
fericd  to,  and  not  the  fuarto.^  — £ii. 

*  The  orders  issued  on  this  occasion  were  as  follows  : 

Camp  at  Lake  George, 

7  Oct'r,  1755. 

You  are  to  embark  with  the  party  under  your  command,  and  landl 
with  them  on  one  of  the  nearest  and  most  convenient  islands  in  thtf 
lake  toward  the  carrying  place  and  Ticonderoga  and  then  send  out  threa 
or  four  proper  persons  to  reconnoitre  the  enemy  thereabouts  and  makJ 
what  discoverys  they  can  :  you  are  then  to  send  out  the  Birch  Canoel 
as  a  bait  for  the  enemy,  and  to  remain  with  the  rest  of  the  party,  inl 
order  to  succor  and  assist  them  if  pursued,  or  to  circumvent  the  enemyj 
for  which  purpose  you  are  to  be  in  constant  readiness  with  your  Menl 
and  Battoes,  and  keep  a  good  lookout. 
By  the  General's  Command, 

Pktir  Wraxall, 

A.D.  Camp. 


W 


s. 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  R'fgers.   31 


I  troops 
It  night 
,  where 
1  charge 
narched  i 
;d  about  [ 
•'b    1 
...rown 
itities  of 
emainedl 
iw  theml 
ich  com- 
e  Cham- 
d  Creek.! 
ve  began! 
my  had  a| 

prehend  im- 
leral  accounti 

i  trans- 1 
-ipshirel 

sdition  is  re-l 


EORGE, 

ct'r,  1755. 

d,  and  Un(i| 
stands  in  th 

nd  out  threi 
is  and  mak 

Birch  Canoel 
the  party,  inl 
\t  the  enemy, 
th  your  Men] 


'raxall, 
UD.  Camp. 


large  advanced  guard  at  the  north  end  of  Lake  George, 
where  the  river  issues  out  of  it  into  Lake  Champlain. 
While  we  were  viewing  these,  I  observed  a  bark 
canoe,  with  nine  Indians  and  a  Frenchman  in  it,  going 
up  the  lake.  We  kept  sight  of  them  till  they  passed 
the  point  of  land,  where  our  canoe  and  men  were  left, 
where,  when  we  arrived,  we  had  information  from 
our  people  that  the  above  Indians  and  Frenchman 
had  landed  on  an  island  six  miles  to  the  south  of  us, 
near  the  middle  of  the  lake.  In  a  short  time  after, 
we  saw  them  put  off  from  the  island;  and  steer  di- 
rectly towards  us  ;  upon  which  we  put  ourselves  in 
readiness  to  receive  them  in  the  best  manner  we  could, 
and  gave  them  a  salute  at  about  100  yards  distance, 
which  reduced  their  number  to  four.  We  then  took 
boat  and  pursued  them  down  the  lake,  till  they  were 
relieved  by  two  canoes,  which  obliged  us  to  retreat 
towards  our  encampment  at  Lake  George,  where  we 
arrived  the  10th  of  October. 

October  15,  1755.  Agreeable  to  orders  of  this 
date  from  General  Johnson,  I  embarked  with  forty 
men  in  five  boats.  Our  design  was  to  discover  the 
.strength  of  the  enemy's  advanced  guard,  and,  if  pos- 
sible, to  decoy  the  whole,  or  part  of  them,  into  an 
ambush  ;  but  tho'  we  were  indefatigable  in  our  en- 
deavours for  se  'eral  days,  yet  all  our  attempts  of  this 

ind  proved  abortive  i  and,  as  an  account  of  our  several 
loven  ents  during  this  scout  would  little  gratify  the 

eader,  1  shall  omit  giving  a  particular  detail  of  them, 
e  returned  safe  to  our  encampment  at  Lake  George 

in  the  19th.* 


'ii  I 


*The  report  of  this  tour  made  to  Gen.  Johnson,  contains  many  de- 
rails omitted  in  the  text : 

"October  7th,  1755.  In  the  evening  embarked  by  order  from 
be  camp  at  Lake  Georjje,  with  a  party  of  about  50  men  to  make  dis- 
ry  of  the  French  at  Atianderogoe,  and  we  went  by  three  or  four 


32  Journais  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 


October   21,   1755.      I  had  orders  from   Grneral 
Johnson  on  this  date,  to  embark  for  Cr<>wn  Point, 


fires,  and  in  sixteen  miles  sailing,  I  missed  one  batoe  —  it  being  dark 
could  not  find  it.  Went  on  with  the  rest  of  the  command,  and  about 
brake  [of]  day  landed  our  battoes  on  ye  east  side  of  y*^  Lake  George, 
within  twelve  miles  of  the  Carrying  Place,  at  Atenderrogo.  Lay  there 
that  day  ;  made  no  discovery.  The  eighth  day  at  evening,  landed  our 
batoes  and  bore  towards  Tianderroge,  and  discovered  a  fire  on  an  is- 
land. Put  to  land,  and  sent  off  a  birch  canoe  to  see  what  was  there. 
They,  that  were  on  the  island  discovered  y«  canoe,  and  put  out  their 
fires,  and,  as  we  supposed,  went  off  in  their  canoe.  Then  went 
down  with  y^  party  within  about  seven  miles  of  the  Carrying  Place, 
and  landed  on  a  point  en  y"  west  side  of  Lake  George,  and  drew  up 
y*    batoes  and  secured  them . " 

"On  the  9th  at  morning,  sent  offCapt.  Putnam,  with  one  man  and 
Capt.  Hunt  with  three  men  more,  in  order  to  go  to  the  Carrying 
Place  and  Tiandeeroge  and  make  discoueries  there  and  return  to  the 
party.  At  evening,  Capt.  Hunt  came  ^ack  with  two  men.  At  night, 
sent  off  Ens'n.  Putnam  with  three  men,  and  ordered  them  to  make 
what  discovery  they  could  with  the  birch  canoe,  and  go  to  the  Carrying 
Place,  tarry  there  all  night,  and  in  y*-'  morning  as  soon  as  it  was  light 
come  back  to  their  command.  This  night  discouered  several  fires  on 
ye   shore  of  ye   lake." 

"loth  day,  Sun  half  an  hour  high.  In  y"  morning  our  birch  canoe 
<ame  in.  Kept  out  small  scouts  by  land,  and  good  guards,  for  fear  of 
the  enemy  coming  on  our  backs.  At  sun  about  two  hours  high  there 
came  up  three  birch  canoes.  They  came  by  y^  east  shore  and  within 
•'venty  rods  of  y"  point  where  we  were  well  ambushed  for  them. 
They  lay  on  their  oars  for  the  best  part  of  an  hour  —  twenty-three  in 
number.  Then  sent  out  our  birch  canoe  to  decoy  them  up  by  the 
point.  Our  canoe  went  j  parleyed  with  them  within  thirty  rods  — 
then  turned  and  paddled  back  up  by  y  point  —  but  they  did  not  fol- 
low them,  but  turned  down  y'  lake  half  a  mile  and  bore  over  to  the 
west  shore,  and  there  landed  their  canoes.  Our  sentry  and  small 
•couts  came  in,  and  said  that  they  discovered  Indians  and  heard  them 
talk.     Capt.  Putnam    instantly   came  back   with   y«   account  [that] 

We  found  their  party  was  too  strong 
our  boats  and  got  homewards  fifteen 


y*   Indians  were  on  our  backs, 
for  us  to  encounter.     Launched 
miles  and  lodged  on  an  iiland. 
"On  the  nth  we  arrived  at 


Lake  George  encampment,  where  we 
took  our  departure  from." — Doc.  Hitt.  N.  TT.,  iv,  262. 

The  reports  to  Capt.  Rosters,  made  by  Capt.  Israel  Putnam,  Capt. 
Samuel  Hunt  and  Ensign  Timothy  Putnam,  are  given  in  Doc.  Hist. 
N.  T.f  iv,  264 — 266.  They  are  found  in  Johnun  MSS.  iii,  57,  58,  59,  { 


msm 


^v7^..f3,s^.-7f'ahiiaa 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.  33 


with  a  party  of  four  men,  in  quest  of  a  prisoner.*  At 
night  we  landed  on  the  west  side  of  Lake  George, 
twenty-five  miles  from  the  English  camp.  The  re- 
mainder of  the  way  we  marched  by  land,  and  the 
26th  came  in  sight  of  the  fort.  In  the  evening  we 
approached  nearer,  and  the  next  morning  found  our- 
selves within  about  300  yards  of  it.  My  men  lay 
concealed  in  a  thicket  of  willows,  while  I  crept 
something  nearer,  to  a  large  pine  log,  where  I  con- 
cealed myself  by  holding  bushes  in  my  hand.  Soon 
after  sun-rise  the  soldiers  issued  out  in  such  numbers, 
that  my  men  and  I  could  not  possibly  join  each  other 
without  a  discovery.  About  lo  o'clock  a  single  man 
marched  out  directly  towards  our  ambush.  When  I 
perceived  him  within  ten  yards  of  me,  I  sprung  over 
the  log,  and  met  him,  and  offered  him  quarters, 
which  he  refused,  and  made  a  pass  at  me  with  a  dirk, 
which  I  avoided,  and  presented  my  fusee  to  his 
breast  ;  but  notwithstanding,  he  still  pushed  on  with 
resolution,  and  obliged  me  to  dispatch  him.  This 
gave  an  alarm  to  the  enemy,  and  made  it  necessary 

*  To  Captain  Rogers  : 

You  are  to  embark  in  the  boats  with  the  party  under  your  com- 
mand, and  make  the  best  of  your  way  down  the  lake  to  within  six 
miles  of  the  advanced  guard  of  the  enemy,  and  make  the  best  disposi- 
tion which  circumstances  will  permit,  to  intercept  any  scouting  parties 
of  the  enemy  who  may  be  sent  out  on  the  lake  for  discovery,  and 
take  as  many  prisoners  as  you  possibly  can. 

Camp  at  Lake  George^  29th  Oct.    1755. 

The  accounts  brought  by  Capt.  Rogers  concerning  the  enemy  at 
Ticondrroga,  differing  somewhat  from  that  obtained  through  other 
sources,  led  Sir  William  Johnson  in  writing  to  Sir  Charles  Hardy,  Oct. 
'3>  1 77 Si  ^°  explain  ti.e  situation,  and  in  referring  to  Rogers' account, 
speak  of  him  as  one  whose  bravery  and  sagacity  stand  very  clear  in 
my  opinion,  and  of  all  who  knew  him.  Tho'  his  regiment  is  gone,  he 
remains  here  a  volunteer,  and  is  the  most  active  man  in  our  army. 

To-morrow  he  proposes  to  set  off  with  two  or  three  picked  men, 
take  a  review,  if  he  can,  of  Ticonderoga,  and  proceed  to  Crown  Point 
for  a  prisoner. — yohnton  MSS.  iii,  83. 


i 

I 

i 

]      I 

h 


i      ! 


34  Journals  of-  Major  Robert  Rogers, 


1 1 


for  us  to  hasten  to  the  mountain.     I  arrived  safe  at 
our  camp  the  30th,  with  ail  my  party.* 

November  4,  1755.  Agreeable  to  orders  from 
General  Johnson  this  day,  I  embarked  for  the 
enemy's  advanced  guard  before  mentioned,  with  a. 
party  of  thirty  men,  in  four  battoes,  mounted  with 
two  wall-pieces  each.  The  next  morning,  a  little 
before  day-light,  we  arrived  within  half  a  mile  of 
them,  where  we  landed,  and  concealed  our  boats ;  I 


*  A  report  by  "Capt.  Rogers  and  Co."  (s'  '  by  Robert  Rogers, 
Jonathan  Butterfield  and  Israel  Putnam),  ^  addressed  to  Gen. 
Johnson,  under  date  of  Oct.  22,   [O    S.]  as  foi'ows  : 

"On  the  14th  day  of  October,  175^,  I  embarked  in  a  birch  canoe 
at  the  camps  on  the  south  end  of  Lake  George,  with  four  men  beside 
myself,  and  sailed  twenty-five  miles,  and  landed  on  the  west  side  of  the 
lake.  Then  traveled  by  land,  and  on  the  i8th  day  I  arrived  on  the 
mountains  on  the  west  side  of  Crown  Point,  where  I  lay  that  night 
and  all  the  next  day,  and  observed  the  enemy's  motions  there,  and 
about  Crown  Point.  Observed  Ambussers  built  upon  the  mount,  about 
thirty  rods  to  the  south-west  of  Crown  Point  post.  In  the  evening 
went  diwn  to  the  houses  that  were  built  upon  the  lake,  to  the  south 
of  Crown  Point,  and  went  into  a  barn  that  was  well  filled  with  wheat. 
Left  three  men  and  proceeded  with  one  man  to  make  further  discover- 
ies at  the  fort.  Found  a  good  place  to  ambush  within  sixty  rods  of 
the  fort,  and  immediately  went  back  and  took  our  partners  and  am- 
bushed, at  the  proper  place  we  had  found,  and  there  we  lay  till  about 
ten  o'clock.  Observed  several  canoes  passing  up  and  down  the  lake, 
and  sundry  men  that  went  out  to  work  about  their  secular  affairs,  and 
judged  the  whole  that  was  in  the  fort  to  be  about  five  hundred.  At 
length,  a  Frenchman  came  out  of  the  fort  towards  us,  with  his  gun, 
and  came  within  fifteen  rods  of  where  we  lay.  Then  I  with  another 
man  ran  up  to  him,  in  order  to  capture  him  —  but  he  refused  to  take 
quarters  —  so  we  killed  him,  and  took  his  calp,  in  plain  sight  of  the 
fort — then  ran,  and  in  plain  view,  about  twenty  rods,  and  made  our 
escape.  The  same  night  we  came  right  west  of  Tianarago,  about 
three  miles,  and  upon  a  mountain  in  plain  sight  of  their  fort,  and  saw  a 
large  encampments  around  it.  and  heard  a  vast  number  of  small  arms 
fired.     Judged  there  to  be  two  thousand  men  at  Tianarago. 

"On  the   2 1  St  day,  got  to   our  canoes  about  eight  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  and  found  ail  safe.     About  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  ar- 
rived all  well  at   our   encampments,   from  whence  we  had  set  out." 
— Joknton  MSS.  iii,    lai — Doe.  Hitl.  N.  T.,  iv,  269. 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.   35 

then  sent  out  foiM*  men  as  spies,  who  returned  the 
next  evening,  and  informed  me,  that  the  enemy  had 
no  works  around  them,  but  lay  entirely  open  to  an 
assault  ;  which  advice  I  dispatched  immediately  to 
the  General,  desiring  a  sufficient  force  to  attack 
them,  which,  notwithstanding  the  General's  earnest- 
ness and  activity  in  the  affair,  did  not  arrive  until  we 
were  obliged  to  retreat.  On  our  return,  however, 
we  were  met  by  a  reinforcement,  sent  by  the  Gener- 
al, whereupon  I  returned  again  towards  the  enemy,'^ 


!        I 


*  The  party  sent  to  reinforce  Capt.  Rogers,  was  under  Capt.  Roger 
Billings,  who  made  a  brief  report,  found  in  Doc.  Hist,  iv,  274.  The 
originil  is  in  Johnson  M-^S.  iii,    166. 

Billings  was   the  bearei  of  the  following  letter  to  Capt.  Rogers : 

"Agreeable  to  your  message  and  desire,  I  send  you  a  reinforcement 
of  men  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Billings,  who  with  the  men,  arc 
to  put  themselves  under  your  command.  I  would  recommend  yuu  to 
act  with  silent  caution,  and  so  to  post  your  men  as  to  cut  off  their  re- 
treat to  Ticonderoga.  It  appears  to  me  most  desirable  to  begin  the 
attack  from  the  water,  securing  their  canoes,  and  that  at  break'of  day. 
You  will  consult  with  the  officers  upon  your  proceedings,  but  the 
stroke  must  be  struck  without  delay.  If  there  are  any  works  and 
time  will  permit,  destroy  them.  Do  your  business  as  soon  as  possible, 
and  don't  delay  one  moment.  Whtn  you  have  done  the  best  yuu  can, 
suffer  no  men  to  delay  time  by  looking  after  plunder,  for  if  you  are 
dilatory,  the  enemy  from  Ticonderoga  may  come  upon  you,  and  be  too 
powerful  for  you  to  make  a  safe  retreat." 

Camp  at  Lake  George,  2d  Nov.  1755. 

The  instructions  to  Colonel  Billings  were  as  follows : 
"You  are  to  embark  with  the  party  under  your  command,  in  order 
to  join  Capt.  Rogers.  Yuu  are  to  keep  the  men  orderly  and  silent, 
upon  the  pain  of  death,  and  not  scatter  the  battoes  out  of  si{;ht  of  each 
other.  Yourself,  and  the  next  officer  in  command  to  be  in  the  last 
battoe,  in  order  to  bring  up  the  rear  regularly.  On  your  joining  Capt. 
Rogers,  you  are  to  be  under  his  command,  and  deliver  him  my  letter 
herewith.  I  have  directed  him  to  consult  with  the  officers  when  oc- 
casion requires.  Your  success  depends  upon  secrecy  and  silence.  Let 
that  be  your  principal  care  and  attention.  Take  Connor  in  the  bat- 
toe  with  you  as  a  pilot,  and  let  the  offictrr  who  brings  up  the  rear  have 
the  Indian  who  came  from  Capt.  Rogers  in  his  bat  toe.  * — Johnson  MSS, 
iii,   168. 


!         I 


36  Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 

and  the  next  evening  sent  two  men  to  see  if  the 
enemy's  Gentries  were  alert,  who  approached  so  near 
as  to  be  discovered  and  fired  at  by  them,  and  were 
so  closely  pursued  in  their  retreat,  that  unhappily  our 
whole  party  was  discovered.  The  first  notice  I  had 
of  this  being  the  case,  was  from  two  canoes  with 
thirty  men  in  them,  which  I  concluded  came  out 
with  another  party  by  land,  in  order  to  force  us  be- 
tween two  fires :  to  prevent,  which  I,  with  Lieuten- 
ant McCurdy,  *and  fourteen  men,  embarked  in  two 
boats,  leaving  the  remainder  of  the  party  on  shore, 
under  the  command  of  Captain  Putnam. t  In  order 
to  decoy  the  enemy  within  the  reach  of  our  wall- 
pieces,  we  steered  as  if  we  intended  to  pass  by  them, 
which  luckily  answered  our  expectations  ;  for  they 
boldly  headed  us  till  within  about  an  hundred  yards, 
when  we  discharged  the  before  mentioned  pieces, 
which  killed  several  of  them,  and  put  the  rest  to 
flight,  jn  which  we  drove  them  so  near  where  our 
land-party  lay,  that  they  were  again  galled  by  them  ; 
several  of  the  enemy  were  tumbled  into  the  water, 
and  their  canoes  rendered  very  leaky.  At  this  time 
I  discovered  their  party  by  land,  and  gave  our  people 


*  John  McCurdy,  Second  Lieutenant  of  Capt.  Rogers*  company. 

f  This  was  Israel  Putnam,  afterwards  Major-General  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  He  was  then  in  command  of  a  company  of  Connecticut 
levies,  in  Lyman's  regiment.  Putnam  shared  with  Rogers  the  hard- 
ships and  perils  of  many  scouts  during  this  campaign,  but  he  seldom 
mentions  his  name,  and  on  one  occassion,  as  "One  Captain  Putnam, 
of  Connecticut." 

Is  it  not  probable  that  jealousies  may  have  been  excited  between 
them,  that  prevented  amicable  relations,  and  generous  mention  in  the 
work  written  after  the  war  was  over?  There  are  many  anecdotes  of 
Putnam,  of  this,  and  later  periods,  related  by  Mr.  David  Humphrey's, 
his  biographer,  but  we  consider  the  statements  of  this  writer  so  little 
reliable,  as  not  to  be  worth  quoting. 


,  <  -^  . ■>-..»- 


I 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.  37 

notice  of  it,  who  thereupon  embarked  likewise,  with- 
out receiving  any  considerable  injury  from  the 
enemy's  fire,  notwithstanding  it  was  for  some  time 
very  brisk  upon  them.  We  warmly  pursued  the 
enemy,  and  again  got  an  opportunity  to  discharge  our 
wall-pieces  upon  them,  which  confused  them  much, 
and  obliged  them  to  disperse.  We  pursued  them 
down  the  lake  to  their  landing,  where  they  were  re- 
ceived and  covered  by  lOO  men,  upon  whom  we 
again  discharged  our  wall-pieces,  and  obliged  them  to 
retire  ;  but  finding  their  number  vastly  superior  to 
our's,  we  judged  it  most  prudent  to  return  to  our  en- 
campment at  Lake  George,  where  we  safely  arrived 
on  the  8th  of  November.  * 


I       I 


*  A  report  signed  by  Robert  Rogers,  Israel  Putnam  and  Noah 
Grant,  was  addressed  to  Gen.  Johnson,  giving  the  following  account  of 
this  expedition  : 

"Pursuant  to  your  orders  of  y*  a9th  of  October  last,  I  set  off  with 
y''  party  to  me  ordered,  and  went  down  y"  lake,  and  on  y«  3i8t 
made  a  discovery  of  a  number  of  fires,  by  night,  situated  on  a  point  of 
land  on  ye  west  side  of  y*^  lake,  [a)  upon  which  we  landed,  and  secured 
our  battoes,  upon  y"  same  side  of  ye  lake,  about  a  mile  and  a  half 
distance  from  their  encampment.  Next  morning  sent  out  spies  for 
further  discovery.  In  the  evening  Captain  Fletcher,  one  of  ye  spies 
returned,  leaving  two  of  y"  spies  there,  and  made  a  report  that  there 
were  four  tents,  and  sundry  small  fires  on  ye  point,  and  upon  that, 
after  consultation,  it  was  concluded  advisable  to  acquaint  your  Honor 
of  our  discovery,  and  reinforce  us  if  you  think  it  advisable,  in  order  to 
proceed  fu  thei,  and  make  a  push  upon  our  enemy.  Accordingly 
Capt.  Fletcher  was  dispatched  to  you  with  six  men  in  y'-  battoe,,  and 
six  being  returned  as  invalids  —  leaving  me  with  nineteen  men  only; — 
but  being  uneasy  with  the  report,  I  took  a  battoe  with  five  men,  and 
went  down  within  twenty-five  rods  of  their  fires.  Discovered  a  small 
fort,  with  several  small  log  camps  within  y"  fort,  which  I  judged  to 
contain  about  a  quarter  of  an  acre  —  said  fort  being  open  toward! 
y*  water,  the  rest  picketed.  Made  no  further  discovery  there,  and 
returned   to   my    party.     Found    all    well    except    Capt.   Putnam  and 

(<i)Conjectured  by  B.  C.  Butler,  in  his  ''Lake  George  and  Lake  CAamm 
plain."  (p.  132),  to  have  been  at  what  is  now  known  at  '*Friendl 
Point,"  in  the  town  of  Hague,  Warren  Co. 


il 


38  Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

Nov.  10,  1755.  Pursuant  to  orders  received  this 
day  from  Gen.  Johnson,  in  order  to  discover  the 
enemy's  strength  and  situation  at  Ticonderoga,  I 
proceeded  on  the  scout  with  a  party  of  ten  men,  on 
the  1 2th  instant,  and  on  the  14th  arrived  w:thin 
view  of  the  fort  at  that  place,  and  found  they  had 


lay  upon  our  oars,  and  inquired  after  the  circumstances  of  y^  party 
yo  spies  with  him,  who  was  not  returned.  The  next  morning,  about 
10  o'clock,  Capt.  Putnam  returned,  and  y«  spies  with  him,  who  gave 
much  the  same  account  as  above  given — that  y«  enemy's  sentries 
were  set  twenty  rods  from  the  fires,  and  [that]  for  a  more  critical  ex- 
amination of  ye  enemy's  proceedings,  he  went  forward  till  he  came  so 
nigh  that  he  was  fired  upon  by  one  of  y  sentries  within  a  rod  of  him. 
But  unlbrtuiiately,  upon  preparing  to  fire  upon  him,  fell  into  a  clay  pit 
and  wet  his  gun.  Then  made  y«  best  retreat  he  was  able,  having 
ye  enemy  close  on  their  heels.  They  made  a  tack,  and  luckily  es- 
caped safe  to  our  party.  Soon  after,  there  was  a  discovery  made  of  two 
Frenchmen  upon  a  hill,  a  small  distance,  who  called  to  us.  Said  hill 
overlooked  our  ambush.  In  a  few  moments  they  retreated,  and  two 
canoes  appeared  and  went  by  us,  and  lay  in  ye  middle  of  ye  lake, 
about  forty  rods  distance  from  each  other.  Judging  by  their  behavior 
that  there  was  a  party  coming  by  land,  and  that  we  must  inevitably  be 
between  two  fires." 

"Upon  which  I  ordered  two  battoes  into  ye  water.  Lieut.  Grant 
with  six  men,  and  I  with  six  more,  and  put  on  board  of  each  a  wall- 
piece,  and  went  out  towards  ye  canoes,  who  seemed  to  lie  by  their 
paddles,  as  though  they  had  a  design  to  decoy  us  into  some  mischief 
i>y  their  party,  and  that  it  was  designed  to  surround  our  people  on 
shore,  and  then  attack  us  by  keeping  us  between  them  and  their  party, 
rinding  rheir  design  [we]  attacked  them  first,  put  them  to  route  and 
surprised  [them]  so  that  they  made  to  ye  shore,  where  Cipt.  Putnam 
with  ye  rest  of  our  party  lay.  But  unhappily  for  them,  he  was  pre- 
pared for  them,  and  shot  and  killed  their  cockswain  ;  and  by  our  wall- 
pieces,  etc.,  killed  divers  of  them.  But  upon  his  firing  upon  their  ca- 
noe, immediately  y  enemy  that  was  upon  his  back,  fired  and  [he] 
had  but  just  time  to  shove  his  battoe  out  into  y"  water,  and  get  into 
it,  before  ye  enemy  appeared  upon  ye  water's  edge,  and  made  a  brisk 
fire  upon  him.  [He  was]  shot  through  his  blanket  in  divers  places, 
and  tiirough  ye  battoe,  and  he  then  made  to  our  battoes  for  refuge. 
Upon  his  escape,  we  pursued  ye  canoes  with  a  constant  fire  upon  them 
tin  we  came  within  eighty  rods  of  their  fires.  Discovered  a  number 
of  men  upon  each  side  of  y"  shore,  within  about  forty  rods  of  us,  and 
gave  each  a  broad  side  which  put  them  to  y"  bush,  and  gave  us  a 
clear  pasitage  homewards.     After  we  got  fairly  into  ye   lake,   [we] 


H, 


i 


ut.  Grant 
h  a  wall- 
by  their 
mischief 
people  on 
leir  party, 
route  and 
Putnam 
was  pre- 
our  wall- 
their  ca- 
and  [he] 
id  get  into 
ide  a  brisk 
vers  places, 
for  refuge, 
upon  them 
a  number 
of  us,  and 
gave  us  a 
ake,   [we] 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.   39 

erected  three  new  barracks  and  four  store-houses  in 
the  fort,  between  which  and  the  water  they  had 
eighty  battoes  hauled  upon  the  beach,  and  about  fifty 
tents  near  the  fort  ;  they  appeared  to  be  very  busy  at 
work.  Having  by  these  discoveries  answered  the  de- 
sign of  our  march,  we  returned,  and  arrived  at  our 
encampment  on  the  19th  of  November. 

December  19,  1755.  Having  had  a  month's  re- 
pose, I  proceeded,  agreeable  to  orders  from  General 
Johnson,  with  two  men,  once  more  to  reconnoitre 


Found  none  killed,  but  one  wounded,  which  gave  joy  to  all  of  us, 
after  so  long  an  engagement,  which  I  judge,  was  near  two  hours. 

"And  then  we  made  y*^  best  of  our  way  to  our  headquarters. 
About  half  v.jy,  we  met  with  y"  reinforcements  —  but  upon  con- 
sultation, thouiiht  best  to  report  what  had  happened,  without  further 
proceeding,  an!  accordingly  arrived  here,  to  y«  encampment,  yo  3d 
\mtiin."—yoAnson  MSS.  iii,   172. — Doc.  Hist.  N.    T.,  iv,  272. 

The  correspondence  presented  in  the  Johnson  MSS.,  show  that  there 
was  much  diversity  of  opinion  in  the  enemy's  camp,  at  this  period  — 
from  the  conflicting  reports  of  scouts,  spies,  and  deserters  —  concerning 
the  strength  of  the  enemy  at  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point. 

Sir  William  Johnson  in  writing  to  General  Shirley,  Nov.  18.  17S5» 
says :  ' 

"When   Capt.  Rogers  had  his  skirmish  with  the  enemy's   advance 

party,  he  told  me  he  heard  the  alarm  cannon  fired  at  Ticonderoga.      I 

find  upon  looking  over  his  written  report,   [that]    he  has  omitted  this 

circumstance.      He  persists  that  he  was  not  mistaken,  but  very  plainly, 

heard    the    cannon.     Now    I   apprehend,    that   upon  this  alarm,  the 

enemy  assembled  at  Crown   Point,  and  from  all  parts  of  the  country 

that  way,  marched  to  Ticonderoga,  imagining  our  army  was  coming 

forwards  —  posted  themselves  in  some  advantageous  pass  to  oppose  us, 

and  that  this  was  the  army  the  Indian  saw,  for  I  cannot  bring  myself 

to  think  they  were  mistaken.     The  oldest  of  them  is  to  this  moment 

I  as  positive  as  ever,  with  regard  to  the  greatness  of  their  fires,  and  (hat 

he  clearly  saw  a  vast  number  of  tents.     Whether  that  army  remains, 

if  broke  up,  upon  further  discovery  that  their  alarm  was  groundless,  or 

I  are  taking  measures  to  attack  ut —  which  of  these  is  the  case,   I   will 

I  not  pret..'nd  to  determine.     Perhaps  before  the  close  of  this  day,  some 

lof  our  scouts  may  help  us  to  form  some  more  certain  judgment." 

Johnwn  MSS.  iii,    115. 

Letter  to  Col.  Gradley.     /</.  iii,  ao4. 


!    i 


4©  journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

the  French  at  Ticonderoga.  In  our  way  we  dis- 
covered a  fire  upon  an  island  adjacent  to  the  route 
we  took,  which,  as  we  supposed,  had  been  kindled 
by  some  of  the  enemy  whi)  were  there.  This 
obliged  us  to  He  by  and  act  like  fishermen,  the  better 
to  deceive  them,  till  night  came  on,  when  we  pro- 
ceeded and  retired  to  the  west  side  of  the  lake,  fif- 
teen miles  north  of  our  fort.  Here  concealing  our 
boat,  the  20th  we  pursued  our  march  by  land,  and 
on  the  list,  at  noon,  were  in  sight  of  the  P'rench 
fort,  where  we  found  their  people  still  deeply  en- 
gaged at  work,  and  discovered  four  pieces  of  cannon 
mounted  on  the  south-east  bastion,  two  at  the  north- 
west towards  the  woods,  and  two  on  the  south.  By 
what  I  judged,  the  number  of  their  troops  were  about 
500.*  I  made  several  attempts  to  take  a  prisoner  bv 
waylaying  their  paths;  but  they  always  passed  in 
numbers  vastly  superior  to  mine,  and  thereby  disap- 
pointed me.  We  approached  very  near  their  fort  by 
night,  and  were  driven  by  the  cold  (which  now  was 
very  severe)  to  take  shelter  in  one  of  their  evacuated  i 
huts;  before  day,  there  was  a  fall  of  snow,  which 
obliged  us  with  all  possible  speed  to  march  home- 
ward, lest  the  enemy  should  perceive  our  tracks  and! 
pursue  us. 

We  found  our  boat  in  safety,  and  had  the  good! 


J 


fortun< 

cold,  a 

freshed 

Henry 

the    SOI 

Genera 

Com  mi 

whose 

HampsI 

were    e 

with  th( 

WilJian- 

with  pai 

year,      i 

Boston  g 

cut  a  Li( 

after  wl 

and  thcs 

use  to  Ij 

under  ml 

enemy's 

mained, 

upon  by 

Janual 

party  of] 


*  A  deserter  from  the  French,  who  was  examined  at  Fort  Edward,  onl 
the  27th  of  Djcember,  1755,  reported  the  number  of  regulars  at  Ti-f 
conderuga,  as  200,  and  of  Canadians,  300 — with  20  Algonquin  anM 
20  Iroquois  savages.  The  latter  were  employed  as  scouts,  and  wenl 
paid  1000  livres  for  each  prisoner  they  should  take.  The  Comman-f 
dant  of  the  fori  was  Mons  Le  Corn. 

At  Crown  Point,  he  reported  50  regulars  and  50  Canadians.  Th^ 
French  army  of  3,000  had  recently  returned  to  Canada.  The  deserte 
assigned  scarcity  of  provisions  as  his  feason  for  quitting  the  camps,  ao^ 
reported  that  this  icarcity  prevailed  throughout  Canada. 


*  The  Co 
Sir  Charley] 
Mr.  Morrii 
Wajor  Cray] 

Sir  Will 
•mentions  t\ 
had  agreed 
,  they  would 
I  cellency  woJ 

t  Williar 
snd  Major 


^IKSB^Ttt'UML  ...l.J..,.,.v.Ui». 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.  41 


fortune  (after  being  almost  exhausted  with  hunger, 
cold,  and  fatgue)  to  kill  two  deer,  with  which  being  re- 
freshed, on  the  24th  we  returned  to  Fort  William 
Henrv  (a  fortress  erected  in  this  year's  campaign)  at 
the  south-end  of  Lake  George.  About  this  time 
General  Johnson  retired  to  Albany,  to  which  place 
Commissioners  were  sent  from  theseveral  governments 
whose  troops  had  been  under  his  command  (New 
Hampshire  only  excepted).*  These  Commissioners 
were  empowered  by  their  respective  constituents, 
with  the  assent  of  a  council  of  war,  to  garrison  Fort 
William  Henrv  and  Fort  Edward,  for  that  winter, 
with  part  of  the  troops  that  had  served  the  preceeding 
year.  Accordingly  a  regiment  was  formed,  to  which 
Boston  government  furnished  a  Colonel  —  Connecti- 
cut a  Lieutenant-Colonel — and  New  York  a  Major  : 
after  which  it  was  adjudged,  both  by  Gen.  Johnson 
and  these  Commissioners,  that  it  would  be  of  great 
use  to  leave  one  company  of  woodsmen  or  rangers 
under  my  command,  to  make  excursions  towards  the 
enemy's  forts  during  the  winter  ;  I  accordingly  re- 
mained, and  did  duty  the  whole  winter,  untill  called 
upon  by  General  Shirley. f 

January   14,   1756.     I    this  day    marched  with  a 
party  of   seventeen  men,  to    reconnoitre  the  French 


*  The  Council  assembled  at  Albany  by  General  Shirley,  consisted  of 
Sir  Charley  Hardy,  Mr.  Fitch  of  Connecticut,  Mr.  Sharp  of  Maryland, 
Mr.    Morris  of   Pennsylvania;    Col.    Peter    Schuyler,    Col.    Dunham 
Major  Craven,  Major  Rutherford  and  Sir  John  St.Clalr. 

Sir  Wiliam  Johnson  in  writini;  to  Gov.  Wentworth,  Oct.  6,  X755, 
mentions  that  Col.  Syms  and  Capt.  Rogers,  with  a  few  of  their  men 
had  agreed  to  stay  at  Lake  George  through  the  winter.  He  thought 
they  would  be  of  much  service  in  the  scouting  way,  and  hoped  his  Ex- 
cellency would  approve  of  the  arrangement. —  Johtnon  MSS.,  iii,  44. 

f  William  Shirley,  was  Commissioned  as  a  Colonel  August  31,  I74S> 
and  Major  General  in  the  British  army,  Febuary  a6,  17S5- 


42  Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


H^l 


forts  }  we  proceeded  down  the  lake  on  the  ice,  upon 
skates,  and  halted  for  refreshment  near  the  fall  out  of 
Lake  George  into  Lake  Champlain.  At  night  we 
renewed  our  march,  and,  by  day-break  on  the  i6«h 
formed  an  ambush  on  a  point  of  land  on  the  east 
shore  of  Lake  Champlain,  within  gunshot  of  the 
path  in  which  the  enemy  passed  from  one  fort  to  the 
other.  About  sun-rise,  two  sledges  laden  with  fresh 
beef  were  presented  to  our  view,  we  intercepted  the 
drivers,  destroyed  their  loading,  and  afterwards  re- 
turned to  P'ort  William  Henry,  where  I  arrived  with 
my  prisoners  and  party  in  good  health  the  17th. 

January  26,    1756.     Pursuant    to  orders  of    this 
date,  from  Colonel  Glasier,*  I  marched  from  Lake 

*  The  fullowing  is  doubtless  the  order  here  referred  to,  although  of 
different  date: 

FoTKT  William  Henry,  29th  Jany.  1756. 
"Sir, 

You  are  hereby  ordered  to  march  the  party  under  your  command 
the  ni^hest  and  best  way  you  can  t<>  Crown  Point.  Then  take  a  view 
of  that  fortress  and  outworks,  and  make  minutes  of  the  same.  If  you 
meet  Indians,  or  any  enemies  on  your  way,  you  are  to  take  them  pris- 
oners, or  kill  them,  or  distress  them  any  other  way  or  means  your  pru- 
dence shall  ditect.  You  are  tu  take  good  care  ot  your  men,  and  not 
expose  them  too  much.  You  are  to  use  all  imaginable  protettion  not 
to  loose  a  man.  If  it  should  snuw,  you  are  to  return  immediately  to 
this  fort.  If  you  discover  any  large  bodies  cf  the  enemy,  you  are  to 
send  one  of  the  most  active  of  your  men  with  intelligence  to  me.  As 
soon  as  you  can  perform  this  service,  you  are  to  return  to  this  fort  with 
your  party.  I  heartily  wish  you  success." 
— yohmon  MSS.  iv,  26.  I  am  Sir,   Your  Humble  Servant, 

B.  Glasiek. 
To  Capt.  Robt.  Rogers  : 

The  report  of  Capt.  Rogers  made  upon  his  return  to  Fort  William- 
Henry,  is  more  minute  than  as  given  in  the  text. 

"Set  out  with  a  party  of  fifty  nien  with  orders  to  look  into  Crown 
Point  and  the  advanced  battery  that  is  built  around  it.  The  first  day 
we  marched  down  the  Lake  George  about  eighteen  miles  and  camped. 
So  we  procecdel  by  the  westward  of  the  great  mountains  and  continued 
our  march  until  the  2d  of  February  ;  then  climbed  up  a  great  moun- 
tain, to  the  west  of  Crown  Point,  about  one  mile,  and  gave  it  the 
name  of  Ogden's   Mount.     There  we  took  a    particular  view  of  the 


overtake 
any  longei 
house,   wl 
their  carti 
in  %<^   \ 

"About 
fire.  The 
so  I  stoppe 
ing  and  Li 
ing  and  I 
the  remaif 
A  tr 


{      ! 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.  43 


Ml 


\\    I 


krant. 


George  with  a  party  of  fifty  men,  with  a  design  to 
discover  the  strength  and  works  of  the  enemy  at 
Crown  Point. 

On  the  2d  of  February,  we  arrived  within  a  mile 
of  that  fortress,  where  we  climbed  a  very  steep 
mountain,  from  which  we  had  a  clear  and  full  pros- 
pect of  the  fort,  and  an  opportunity  of  taking  a  plan 
of  the  enemy's  works  there.  In  the  evening  we  re- 
tired to  a  small  village,  half  a  mile  from  the  fort,  and 
formed  an  ambuscade  on  each  side  of  the  road  lead- 
ing from  the  fort  to  the  village.  Next  morning  a 
Frenchman  fell  into  our  hands  ;  soon  after  we  dis- 
covered two  more,  but  they  unluckily  got  sight  of  us 

fort  and  the  ridouts  that  is  built  around  it,  and  a  plan  of  the  same. 
We  laid  there  until  the  eveninc,  then  went  down  the  mountain, 
marched  throu^^h  a  small  village  .ibout  half  a  mile  from  the  fort  to  the 
southward.  There  we  laid  in  anihush  upon  each  side  of  the  road  that 
leads  from  the  fort  th-ough  b''  village.  There  we  laid  until  about 
nine  of  the  clock  in  morning,  and  there  came  along  one  Frenchman 
which  we  took  prisoner,  and  two  more  were  a  coming  toward  us  but 
discovered  our  ambush  and  made  a  speedy  escape  to  the  fort  and  some 
of  my  men  pursued  them  within  gunshot  of  the  fort  but  could  not 
overtake  them.  So  we  being  discovered  thought  it  needless  to  wait 
any  longer  for  prisoners,  but  immediately  set  fire  to  the  barns  and 
house,  where  was  abundence  of  wheat  and  other  grain  and  we  killed 
their  cartle,  horses  and  hogs  in  number  about  fifty.  Left  none  living 
in  s**   village  to  our  knowledge. 

"About  II  o'clock  we  marched  homeward,  leaving  the  vill.ige  on 
fire.  The  jth  inst.,  in  the  morning,  one  of  our  men  was  taken  sick, 
so  I  stopped  with  seven  men  and  sent  the  rest  home  with  Capt.  Gush- 
ing and  Lieut.  Ogden.  They  arrived  at  our  fort  about  6  in  the  even- 
ing and  I  got  home  the  next  day  about  4  o'clock  in  y<=  afternoon  with 
the  remainder  of  my  partv." 

A  true  account  by  your  humble  servant. 

Witness, 
Seth  Gushing. 

Doc.   Hi  it.    N.    r.,  !v, 
183-284.— _7oA«M«  MSS. 
V,  27. 


44  'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 


before  th~"  were  in  our  power,  and  hastily  retired  to 
the  fort.  Finding  ourselves  discovered  by  the  enemy 
by  this  accident,  we  employed  ourselves  while  we 
dare  stay  in  setting  fire  to  the  houses  and  barns  in 
the  village,  with  which  were  consumed  large  quanti- 
ties of  wheat,  and  other  grain  ;  we  also  killed  about 
fifty  cattle,  and  then  retired,  leaving  the  whole  vil- 
lage in  flames*  and  arrived  safe  at  our  fort,  with  our 
prisoner,  the  6th  of  February. 

February  29,  1756.  Agreeable  to  orders  from 
Colonel  Glasier,  I  this  day  marched  with  a  party  of 
fifty-six  men  down  the  west  side  of  Lake  George. 
We  continued  our  route  northward  till  the  5th  of 
March,  and  then  steered  east  to  Lake  Champlain, 
about  six  miles  north  of  Crown  Point,  wheie  bv  the 
intelligence  we  had  from  the  Indians,  we  expected  to 
find  some  inhabited  villages.  We  then  attempted  to 
cross  the  lake,  but  found  the  ice  too  weak.  The 
17th  we  returned  and  marched  round  by  the  hay  to 
the  west  of  Crown  Point,  and  at  night  got  into  the 
cleared  land  among  their  houses  and  barns  ;  here  we 
formed  an  ambush,  expecting  their  labourers  out  to 
tend  their  cattle,  and  clean  their  grain  of  which  there 
were  several  barns  full  ;  we  continued  there  that 
night,  and  next  day  till  dark;  when  discovering  none 
of  the  enemy,  we  set  fire  to  the  houses  and  barns, 


*The  remains  of  a  village  with  its  streets,  and  the  cellars  of  housei 
is  still  visible  near  the  ruins  of  the  fortress  of  Crown  Point.  The 
Swedish  traveler  Kalm,  mentions  a  thriving  settlement  at  this  place. 
Mr.  Winslow  C.  Watson  in  his  history  of  Essex  County,  (p.  117), 
mentions  the  trace  of  a  French  settlement  near  Cruwn  Point,  and 
from  allusions  in  ancient  manuscripts  and  traditions  draws  the  conclu- 
sion that  this  must  have  been  the  seat  of  an  important  N.itTic  -rween 
the  Trench  and  Indians,  with  a  resident  popul  ion  timatcu  n.  iti 
best  days,  at  from  1,500  to  3,000  inhabitan'*  'M  (hat  even  before 
French  military  occupation,  it  might  have  b  important  ma  '  of 

Indian  trade. 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,  45 

and  marched  off.  In  our  return  I  took  a  fresh  view 
of  Ticonderoga,  and  reconnoitered  the  ground  be- 
tween that  fort  and  the  advanced  guard  on  Lake* 
George,  approaching  so  near  as  to  see  their  Gentries 
on  the  ramparts,  and  obtained  all  the  knowledge  of 
their  works,  strength  and  situation,  that  I  desired. 

The  14th  of  March,  we  returned  safe  to  Fort 
William  Henry. 

The  next  day,  after  my  return  from  this  scout,  I 
received  a  letter,  dated  February  24,  1756,  from 
Mr.  William  Alexander  *  of  New  York,  who  was 
secretary  to  Mr.  Shirley,  Commander  in  chief  of  the 
troops  at  Oswego  the  preceding  year,  and  who  now 
upon  the  decease  of  General  Braddock,f  succeeded 
to  the  chief  command  of  all  his  Majesty's  forces  in 
North  America,  and  was  now  at  Boston,  preparing 
for  the  ensuing  campaign,  being  previously  recom- 
mended to  this  gentleman  by  General  Johnson.  I 
was  dc-sired  by  the  above  mentioned  letter  to  wait  on 
him  at  Boston  ;  of  which  I  informed  the  command- 
ing officer  at  the  fort,  and,  with  his  approbation,  I 
set  out  on  the  17th  of  March,  leaving  the  command 
of  my  company  to  Mr.  Noah  Johnson, J  my  Ensign  ; 
my  brother  Richard  Rogers,  who  was  my  Lieutenant, 


*  Mr.  Alexander  served  on  Gen.  Shirley's  staff  as  aid-de-camp  and 
private  secretary,  and  after  the  war  accompanied  him  to  England  to 
assist  in  the  settlement  of  his  accounts.  He  is  known  in  history  as 
Lord  Stirling,  a  Major  General  of  the  American  Revolution. 

f  Major  General  Edward  Braddock  was  killed  July  13,  I7SS>  '"^  * 
battle  on  the  Monongahela  near  Pittsburgh. 

X  Johnson  belonged  in  Dunstable,  and  had  been  in  Lovewell's  fight, 
in  1725.  At  the  age  of  eighty,  he  went  up  to  Frcyburg,  to  shovf  to 
the  settlers  the  scene  of  this  engagement. —  Stark'i  Rtminitctntti  of  tbt 
French  fVar,  p.  18. 


1   - 

* 


46  Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


being  sent  to  Boston  by  the  commanding  officer,  on 
some  dispatches  previous  tu  this.* 

On  the  23d,  I  waited  on  the  General,  and  met 
with  a  very  friendly  reception ;  he  soon  intimated 
his  design  of  giving  me  the  command  of  an  independ- 
ent company  of  Rangers,  and  the  very  next  morning 
I  received  the  commission,  with  a  set  of  instructions. 

According  to  the  General's  orders,  my  company 
was  to  consist  of  sixty  privates,  at  p.  New  York 
currency  per  day,  three  Serjeants  at  ^s.  an  Ensign  at 
5s.  a  Lieutenant  at  js.  and  my  own  pav  was  fixed  at 
105.  per  day.  Ten  Spanish  dc^iars  were  allowed  to 
each  man  towards  provi  'ng  cloaths,  arms,  and 
blankets.  My  orders  were,  to  raise  this  company  as 
quick  as  possible,  toinlist  none  but  such  as  were  used 
to  travelling  and  hunting,  and  in  whose  courage  and 
fidelity  I  could  confide  ;  they  were,  moreover,  to  be 
subject  to  military  discipline,  and  the  articles  of  war. 

Our  rendezvous  was  appointed  at  Albany,  from 
thence  to  proceed  in  four  whale  boats  to  Lake 
George,  and,  **  fr^m  time  to  time,  to  use  my  best 
**  endeavors  to  distress  the  French  and  allies,  by 
**  sacking,  burning,  and  destroying  their  houses, 
"  barns,  barracks,  canoes,  battoes,  &c.,  and  by  killing 
**  their  cattle  of  every  kind  ;  and  at  all  times  to  en- 
"  deavour    to    way-lay,    attack,    and    destroy     their 

convoy  j  of  provisions  by  I  nd  and  water,  in  any 

part  of  the  coui  ^ry,  where  I  could  find  them." 


*  It  is  stated  in    Potter's    History  of  Manchester,   N.  H.    (p.  489), 
that  Rog>-rs  while  engaged  in  enlisting  soldiers  in   Massachusetts,  had 
become  implicated  with  some  others  in  countorteiting  the  paper  money 
of  the  colony,  and  was  arrested  and  put  under  bonds  for  his  appearance' 
at*court.     The  government  was  in  want  of  troops,  and  an  arrjngemrnt  I 
was    soon  made,    that  the  proceedings  should    be  stayed  against  him 
and  his  companions  provided   they  enlisted   for  the    war.     Rogers  wii  i 
commissioned  as  a  Captain  and  in  a  very  short  time,  had  his  compl'. 
ment  of  men  and  was  on  his  way  to  Albany. 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,  47 


i     1 


With  these  instructions,  I  received  letters  to  the 
commanding  officers,  at  Fort  William  Henry  and 
Fort  Edward,  directing  them  to  forward  the  service, 
with  which  I  was  now  particularly  charged.* 

When  my  company  was  completed,  a  part  marched 
under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Rogers  to  Albany  ; 
wiih  the  remainder,  I  was  ordered  to  march  through 
the  woods  to  Number  Four  then  a  f'-untier  town 
greatly  exposed  to  the  enemy  ;  where, f 

April  28,  1756.  I  received  orders  to  march  from 
thence  to  Crown  Point,  in  pursuance  of  which  we 
travelled  through  deserts  and  mountains.  The  second 
day  of  our  march,  my  Second  Lieutenant,  Mr.  John 
Stark,  was  taken  sick,  and  obliged  to  return,  with 
whom  I  sent  six  men  to  guard  him  to  Fort  Edward. 

We  continued  our  march  till  the  5th  of  May, 
when  I  arrived  with  nine  men  at  Lake  Champlain, 
four  miles  south  of  Crown  Point.  Here  we  con- 
cealed our  packs  and  marched  up  to  a  village  on  the 


*  The  offireis  of  this  company  were  : 

Robert  Rogers,  Q'ptain. 

Richard  Rogers    First  Lieutenant. 

John  Stark,  tsccond  Lieutenant, 

Noah  Johnson.  Emi^n, 

The  company  consisted  of  sixty  privates,  and  was  the  nucleus  of  the 
famous  '•  Roger's  Rangers."  —  Report  of  Adjutant  General  oj  N.  H., 
1866,  ii,  158. 

+  **  Number    Four,"   now  Charlestown,  Sullivan    Co.    N.    H.,  wai 
granted  by  Massachusetts,  and  settled   about    1736.      A  furt  was  built 
here  at  an  early   period,  to  check    the  enemy   from  Canada,  in  their 
inroads  upon  the   English  settlements.      In  the    spring  of  1747,  the 
post  was  attacked  by  a  large  party  of  p'rench  and  Indians  under  Monsieur 
Dcbelinc,    but   gallantly   and   luccessfuli)   defended    by   Capt.  Phineai 
Stevens,  \^ho  with  thirty   men,  sustained  a   leige  of  three   days,  with 
but  small  loss.      Sir  Charles  Knowles,  who  was    then  at  Boston,   sent 
[an  elegant  sword  to  Captain  Stevens,  and  when  the  place  was  incor- 
porated ai  a  town  in  1753,11  was  nimed  Charlestown  in  compliment 
jtu  the  commodore.     The  post  was  subsequently  attacked  several   timet 
[by  the  enemy,  and  in  March  1748,  Captair.  Stevcni  was  killed. 


48  Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


east  side,  about  two  miles  distant  from  Crown  Point, 
but  found  no  inhabitants  there.  We  lay  in  wait  the 
whole  day  following,  opposite  to  Crown  Point,  ex- 
pecting some  party  to  cross  the  lake;  but  nothing 
appeared  except  about  four  or  five  hundred  men  in 
canoes  and  battoes,  coming  up  the  lake  from  St. 
John's  to  Crown  Point.  We  kept  our  station  till 
next  day,  ten  o'clock  a  m.  to  observe  the  motions 
of  the  enemy,  but  finding  no  opportunity  to  trapan 
any  of  chem,  we  killed  twenty-three  head  of  cattle, 
the  tongues  of  which  was  a  very  great  refreshment 
to  us  on  our  journey.  We  at  this  time  discovered 
eleven  canoes  manned  with  a  considerable  number  of 
French  and  Indians  crossing  the  lake  directly  towards 
us,  upon  which  we  retired  ■,  and  the  better  to  escape 
our  pursuers  we  dispersed,  each  man  taking  a  differ- 
ent route.  We  afterwards  assembled  at  the  place 
where  we  concealed  our  packs,  and  on  a  raft  crossed 
over  to  the  west  side  of  the  lake.  In  our  way  we 
had  a  view  of  the  French  and  Indians,  encamped  at 
the  old  Indian  carrying  place,  near  Ticonderoga, 
and  the  nth  of  May  arrived  saf*?  at  Fort  William 
Henry.  Mr.  Stark,  with  his  party,  arrived  at  Fort 
Edward  three  days  before.  In  their  way  they  dis- 
covered a  scouting  party  of  three  or  four  hundred 
Indians.  Lieutenant  Rogers  with  his  party  had 
arrived  some  days  before  this,  and  was  at  this  time 
out  upon  a  scout. 

May  20,  1756.  Agreeable  to  orders  from  the 
General,  I  set  our  with  a  party  of  eleven  men  to  re- 
connoitre th«*  F.ench  advanced  guards.  The  next 
day,  from  the  top  of  a  mountain,  we  had  a  view  of 
them,  and  judged  their  number  to  be  about  300 ; 
they  were  busy  in  fortifying  themsel*  ss  with  palisa- 
does.  From  the  other  side  of  the  mountain  we  had 
a  prospect  of  Ticonderoga  fort,  and,  from  the  ground 


journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers    49 

their  encampment  took  up,  I  judged  it  to  consist  of 
about  1000  men.  This  night  we  lodged  on  the 
mountain,  and  next  morning  marched  to  the  Indian 
carrying  path,  that  leads  from  Lake  George  to  Lake 
Champlain,  and  formed  an  ambuscade  between  the 
French  guards  and  Ticonderoga  fort.  About  six 
o'clock  118  Frenchmen  passed  by  without  discover- 
ing us ;  in  a  few  minutes  after,  twenty-two  more 
came  the  same  road,  upon  whom  we  fired,  killed  six, 
and  took  one  a  prisoner  ;  but  the  large  party  return- 
ing, obliged  us  to  retire  in  haste,  and  we  arrived  safe, 
with  our  prisoner,  at  Fort  William    Henry  the  23d. 

The  prisoner  we  had  taken  reported,  *'  that  a  party 
of  220  French  and  Indians  were  preparing  to  invest 
the  out-parties  at  Fort  Edward,"  which  occasioned 
my  marching  the  next  morning  with  a  party  of  78 
men  to  join  a  detachment  of  Col.  Bayley's*  regiment, 
tu  scour  the  woods  as  far  as  South  Bay,  if  possible 
to  intercept  the  enemy  ;  but  we  could  not  discover 
them. 

June  13,  1756.  Agreeable  to  orders  this  evening, 
I  embarked  with  a  party  of  26  men  in  battoes  upon 
Lake  George,  to  revisit  the  French  advanced  guard  ; 
excessive  thunder  and  lightening  obliged  us  to  land 
at  about  ten  miles  distance  from  our  fort,  where  we 
spent  the  night.  The  next  morning,  about  sun-rise, 
we  heard  the  explosion  of  upwards  of  twenty  small 
arms,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  lake,  which  we  sup- 
posed to  be  a  party  of  French  and   Indians,  cleaning 


*  Col.  Jacob  Bayley,  w»t  a  native  of  Hampitead,  to  which  father 
had  moved  from  Newbury,  Mass.  After  the  close  of  the  "Seven 
Year's  War  *'  he  removed  to  Newbury,  Vt.,  having  obtained  a  grant 
of  that  town  for  himself  and  associates  from  Governor  Wentworth. 
He  was  very  influential  in  the  C061  Country  in  the  Revolution  and 
held  various  important  Civil  Offices.  He  died  March,  1815,  a^ed  89 
years. —  Refcn  of  Adjutant  Ctntral  of  Nitu  HamftAirt,  1866,  ii,  i8«. 


!,,\.!:.:t: 


50  Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

their  guns  after  the  rain.  In  the  evening  we  em- 
barked again,  and  early  in  the  morning  of  the  i6th 
drew  up  our  battoes  about  four  miles  distant  from 
the  advanced  guard,  and  afterwards  lay  in  ambush  by 
a  path  leading  from  thence  to  a  mountain,  in  order  to 
surprise  the  enemy,  who  went  there  daily  in  parties, 
to  take  a  view  of  the  lake  ;  but  finding  they  were  not 
at  that  place,  we  marched  to  the  spot  where  the 
enemy  had  posted  their  advanced  guard,  but  they  had 
retired  and  demolished  all  their  works  there  ;  we 
then  continued  our  march  toward  Ticonderoga,  near 
which  place  we  ascended  an  eminence,  and  had  a 
clear  view  of  their  works.  I  judged  that  their  garri- 
son and  encampment  consisted  o\  about  3000  men : 
We  then  set  out  on  our  return,  and  arrived  at  Fort 
William  Henry  the  i8th  instant,  except  one  man, 
who  strayed  trom  us,  and  who  did  not  get  in  till  the 
23d,  then  almost  famished  for  want  of  sustenance.* 


^The  report  of  this  expedition  made  to  General  Johnson,  was  as 
follows  : 

'•  Journal  of  a  Scout  from  Fort  William  Henry  down  into  Lake 
Champlain,  pursuant  to  an  order  from  his  Excellency,  Major  General 
Shirley  to  Captain  Robert  Rogers —  as  followeth,  viz. 

June  y"  aoth,  1756,  set  out  with  a  party  of  fifty  men  in  five 
Whale  Boats,  and  proceeded  at  about  twent)  miles  in  Lake  George, 
where  we  enc-nped.  The  next  day  went  five  miles  further  down 
y  Lake  an'!  thrre  landed,  hauled  our  boats  ashore,  and  carried  them 
over  a  movntaiu  about  six  miles  to  South  Bay,  where  we  arrived  on 
ye  xA  Jul),  in  the  afternoon,  and  y«  same  evening  went  down 
y"    Lake  '  to]  about  six  miles  distance  from  y"    Forts. 

July  y'  4th  towards  morning  we  hauled  up  y"  Boats  on  the  east  I 
tide  of  thu  lake  and  concealed  them,  and  laid  by  until  evening.  Then 
•et  out  again,  and  passed  by  Tiantiroga  and  found  we  were  not  dis- 
covered by  being  10  near  y*  enemy  as  to  hear  y"  sentry's  watch  word, 
we  judged  from  the  number  of  their  fires  [that]  they  had  a  body  of  I 
about  two  thousand  men,  and  that  y"  Lake  in  this  place  is  about 
•eventy  rods  [wide].  Continued  on  till  day-light ;  about  five  milei 
from  y*  Fort ;  then  hauled  up  y*  Boats  and  concealed  all  day,  on 
J*  aame  ihore,  and  ditcovered  sundry  Battoes,  loaded   and  unloaded,  | 


^i  ■■> 


journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.    51 


ion,  was  as 


About  this  time  the  General  augmented  my  com- 
pany to  seventy  men,  and  sent  me  six  light  whale- 
boats  from  Albany,  with  orders  to  proceed  immedi- 
ately to  Lake  Champlain,  to  cut  off,  if  possible,  the 
provisions  and  flying  parties  of  the  enemy.  Accord- 
ingly, June  28,  1756,  I  embarked  with  fifty  men  in 
five  whale-boats,  and  proceeded  to  an  island  in  Lake 

which  were  coming  and  going  upon  y'^  lake.  [In  a  marginal  noto  ii 
here  added  —  Thirty  going  loaded  from  Crown  Point  to  Ticonderoga ; 
two  birli  canoes,  with  about  twenty  Indians;  nine  empty,  returning 
from  Ticondproga.] 

In  )"  evening  of  y"  fifth  day,  put  off  again,  and  attempted  to  pass 
by  Crown  Point ;  but  thought  it  imprudent  to  pursue  this  intention  by 
reason  of  the  clearness  and  light  of  the  night  —  so  [we]  hauled  up)^ 
boats  ag.iin,  and  lay  concealed  all  day,  being  of  6th  current.  This  day 
near  one  hundred  boats  passed  us,  seven  of  which  came  very  near  ui, 
and  asked  to  land  at  the  point  where  we  lay,  but  their  officers  went 
further  on,  and  landed  about  twenty -five  rods  from  us,  where  they  dined 
in  uur  view  ;  hut  [we]  did  nut  think  it  advisable  to  attack  them  in 
the  situation  we  were  in.  [Added  in  a  marginal  note. —  Thirty  of 
the  sailing  boats,  empty,  and  going  north  ward,  and  three  loaded, 
guing  to  Ticonderoga.]  About  9  in  y"  evening',  set  out  again 
Passcif  y'  Fort  at  Crown  Point  and  went  ten  miles  trom  it  down 
y'    Lake  and  hauled  up   y^    Boats  about  the  break  of  day. 

July  7th  about  ten  in  y"  morn,  thirty  boats  passed  towards  Canada, 
[Supposed  in  part  to  be  those  seen  thi;  day  before]  \  also  a  light  schooner 
of  about  35  or  40  tons.  Set  out  again  in  y"  evening,  and  went  fifteen 
miles  further  down,  and  went  asiiore  about  I  o'clock  a.  m.,  upon  a 
point  on  y"  east  side  of —  and  immediately  sent  a  party  further  down 
the  Lake  for  discovery.  They  saw  a  schooner  at  anchor  some  distance 
from  y'  shore,  about  a  mile  'Vom  us,  and,  upon  thii  intelligence, 
lighted  our  boats  and  intended  to  board  them,  but  were  prevented. 
About  three  o'clock  saw  two  lighters  coming  up  the  Lake,  who,  we 
fuunil,  intended  to  land  in  y"  place  where  we  were.  These  vessels 
we  fired  upon  immediately,  and  afterwards  hailed  them,  and  offered 
them  quarters  if  they  would  come  ashore  —  which  they  said  they 
would  comply  with  —  but  instead  thereof,  put  off  in  their  boats  to 
y'^  opposite  shore.  But  we  foilowing  them  in  our  boats  and  intercept 
ted  tiiem,  and  after  taking  them,  found  twelve  men,  three  of  whom 
were  killed  and  two  wounded.  One  of  the  wounded  could  not  Tiarch 
therefore  [we]  put  an  end  to  him  to  preuent  discovery.  As  soon  ai 
the  prisoners  were  secure,  we  mployed  ourselves  in  des'.riying  and 
!  sinking  vessels  and  cargoes,  which  were  chiefly  Wheat,  Flour,  Rice, 


-  ■■■— 


52  journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 


George.  The  next  day,  at  about  five  miles  distance 
from  this  island,  we  landed  our  boats,  and  carried 
them  about  six  miles  over  a  mountain,  to  South  Bay, 
where  we  arrived  the  3d  of  July.  The  following 
evening  we  embarked  again,  and  went  down  the  bay 
to  within  six  miles  of  the  French  toit,  where  we 
concealed  our  boats  till  the  evening.  We  then  em- 
barked again,  and  passed  by  Ticonderoga  undiscov- 
ered, tho'  we  were  so  near  the  enemy  as  to  hear 
their  Gentry's  watch-word.  We  judged  from  the 
number  of  their  fires,  that  they  had  a  body  of  about 
2,000  men,  and  the  lake  in  this  place  to  be  near  400 
yards  wide.  About  five  miles  further  down,  we 
again  concealed  our  boats,  and  lay  by  all  day.  We 
saw  several  battoes  going  and  coming  upon  the  lake. 
At  night  wc  put  off  again,  with  a  design  to  pass  h\ 
''>own  Point,  but  afterwards  judged  it  imprudent  by 
reason  of  the  clearness  of  the  night,  so  lay  concealed 


Wine  and  Br.indy  —  except  some  few  <.d»k>  of"  br.indy  and  wine,  which 
we  hid  in  some  very  secure  places,  with  our  whale  boats,  at  some  dis- 
tance on  y"    opposite  shore.     The   prisoners  informed   us,  that  about  I 
five   iiumlred  men,  of"  which  they   were  foremost,  were  on  their  pas- 
sage at  about  two  leagues  distance,  which  occasioned  us  to  get  forward  I 
on  our  return,  on   y"    morning  of  the  8th  inst.  and  pursued    our  march 
till    y"    I  2th,  when  we  arrived  on  the  west  side  of  Lake  George,  about 
twenty-five  miles  from  Fort  William   Henty.     Sent  Lieut.   Rogers  to 
laid  fort  for  the  battoes  and  provisions  to  carry   us  by  water.     On  th( 
14th,  in   y°    evening,    y"    Lieut,  returned  to  us  with  thirty   men  andl 
ten  battoes,  and  on  the    15th  at  two  o'clock,  we  arrived  safe  with  all 
my  pJity  and  prisoners  at  Fort  William-Henry.'* 

In  a  let  er  from   Gen.   Winslow  to  Gov.   Wentworh,  dated  June! 
27,  1776,  the  following  account  is  given  of  this  expedition: 

"Capt.  Rogers  has  lately  returned  from  reconnoitering  the  fortreiil 
of  Ticonderoga,  and  nforms  us  that  the  enemy  are  retired  and  underl 
their  Furtrris,  and  that  he  judges  them  to  be  three  thousand  strong!  all 
that  fort,  and  that  they  have  been  out  and  intirely  destroyed  their  Ad- 
'  vance  Guard,  about  six  miles  on  this  side.  Hope  things  will  surcrrdl 
according  to  the  desire  of  my  Constituents,  and  my  Country  i?-z^  hn 
this  expedition,  which  I  am  sensible  is  not  only  costly,  but  hazardous." 
— Nttu  Hampihiriy  Premintial  Paftrt —  vi,  5 29 J 


"journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,    53 

again  the  next  day,  when  near  a  hundred  boats  passed 
by  us,  seven  of  which  came  very  near  the  point 
where  we  were,  and  would  have  landed  there  ;  but 
the  officer  insisted,  in  our  hearing,  upon  going  about 
150  yards  further,  where  they  landed,  and  dined  in 
our  view.  About  nine  o'clock  at  night  we  rc-im- 
barked,  and  passed  the  fort  at  Crown  Point,  and 
again  concealed  our  boats  at  about  lO  miles  distance 
from  it.  This  day,  being  July  yth,  30  boats  and  a 
schooner  of  about  30  or  40  tons,  passed  by  us 
towards  Canada.  We  set  out  again  in  the  evening, 
and  landed  about  fifteen  miles  further  down,  from 
which  place  I  sent  a  party  for  further  discovery,  who 
brought  intelligence  of  a  schooner  at  anchor,  about  a 
mile  from  us ;  we  immediately  lii;htened  our  boats, 
and  prepared  to  board  her  ;  but  were  prevented  by 
two  lighters  coming  up  the  lake,  who,  we  found,  in- 
tended to  land  where  we  were  posted  ;  these  we 
fired  upon,  then  hailed  them,  and  offered  them  quar- 
ters, if  they  would  come  ashore  ;  but  they  hastily 
pushed  towards  the  opposite  shore,  where  we  pi«r- 
sued  and  intercepted  them  ;  we  found  their  numl.er 
to  be  twelve,  three  of  which  were  killed  by  our  fire, 
and  two  wounded,  one  of  them  in  such  a  manner 
that  he  soon  died.  We  sunk  and  destroyed  their 
vessels  and  cargoes,  which  consisted  chiefly  of  wheat 
and  flour,  wine  and  brandy  ;  some  few  casks  of  the 
latter  we  carefully  concealed.  The  prisoners  in- 
formed us,  that  they  were  a  part  of  500  men,  the 
remainder  of  which  were  not  far  behind  on  their 
passage,  which  induced  us  to  hasten  our  return  to 
our  garrison,  where,  with  our  prisoners  we  safely 
arrived  the  15th  of  July.  These  prisoners,  upon 
examination,  reported:  "That  a  great  number  of 
regular  troops  and  militia  were  assembling  at  Cham- 


I  f 


54  Journals  of  Maftr  Robert  Rogers. 


Is 


blee,  and  destined  for  Carillon,  or  Ticonderoga  ;* 
that  great  quantities  of  provisions  were  transporting 
there,  and  a  new  Generalf  with  two  regiments  lately 
arrived  from  France  ;  that  there  was  no  talk  of  any 
design  upon  our  forts  on  this  side  ;  but  that  a  party 
of  300  French  and  10  Indians,  had  already  set  out 
to  intercept  our  convoys  of  provisions  between  Al- 
bany and  Lake  George ;  that  60  livres  was  the  re- 
ward for  an  English  scalp,  and  that  the  prisoners 
were  sold  in  Canada  for  50  crowns  each ;  that  their 
prospect  of  an  harvest  was  very  encouraging,  but 
that  the  small-pox  make  great  havoc  amongst  the 
inhabitants."  About  the  time  of  my  setting  out 
upon  this  scout,  Major-General  Shirley  was  superse- 
ded in  his  command  by  Major  General  Abercrombie,| 
who  arrived  at  the  head-quarters  in  Albany  on  the 
25  of  June,  and  brought  with  him  two  regiments  of 
regular  troops  from  England.     I  therefore,  upon  my 


*The  former  is  the  French,  the  latter  the  In;'<an  name,  signifying 
the  meeting  or  confluence  of  three  waters. 

Carillon^  is  a  French  word,  signifying  a  chime  of  belts,  and  doubt- 
less owes  it  application  at  Ticonderrga,  to  the  music  of  the  cascade  in 
the  outlet  of  Lake  George,  above  the  modern  village  of  Ticonderoga. 
The  principal  fall  is  about  loo'feet  in  hight  —  not  in  one  sheet,  but  in 
a  steep  descent  over  rugged  rucks  that  break  the  stream  into  a  mass  of 
foam.  The  outlet  is  about  three  miles  and  a  hjlf  long,  and  is  naviga- 
ble up  to  the  lower  falls.  The  entire  fall  hetwern  the  two  lakes  is  225 
feet,  the  most  of  which  is  within  a  dist.mce  of  a  mile  and  a  half. 

The  native  name  "Onderoga,"  or  "Ticonderoga,"  is  said  to  have 
allusion  to  the  music  of  these  falling  waters. 

Brassiere's  Map  of  Lake  Champlain,  (1762,)  names  this  place 
"Chonderoga"  or  Three  Rivers." 

fThe  Marquis  de  Montcalm,  who  commanded  in  the  reduction  of 
Oswego  this  year,  and  of  Fort  William  Henry  the  year  following. 

Note  by  iht  Author, 

I  James  Abercrombie,  became  a  Colonel  April  16,  1746  and  a  Ma- 
jor-General in  the  British  Army  February  1,  1756. 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.    ^^ 


return,  wrote  to  his  Excellency,  desiring  leave  to  by 
before  h[m  the  minutes  of  my  last  scout,  and  to  rec- 
ommend to  his  consideration  an  augmentation  of  the 
rangers.  The  General  permitted  me,  with  my 
brother  Richard  Rogers,  to  wait  upon  him  at  Albany, 
In  this  interview  we  discoursed  on  the  subject  of  my 
letter,  in  consequence  of  which  he  immedi">  .'v 
ordered  a  new  company  of  rangers  to  be  raised^  an  i 
gave  the  command  of  it  to  my  brother,*  appointed 
Noah  Johnson,  my  former  Ensign,  his  First  Lieu- 
tenant,   Nathaniel    Abbotf  his    Second    Lieutenant, 


*  He  completed  his  company  in  28  days,  and,  by  the  General's  or- 
ders, went  up  Mohawke  river,  to  serve  as  a  scouting  party  fur  the 
troops  that  way. 

Note  Ay  the  Author. 

This  second  company  of  Rangers  was  officered  as  follows: 

Hichard  Roger t.  Captain. 

Noah  yohnson.  First   Lieutenant. 

Naihanid  Ahhntt^  Second  Lieutenant. 

Calth  Page,  Ensign. 

These,  as  well  as  the  first  company,  were  all  of  New  Hampshire, 
and  the  men  were  mainly  of  this  Province. 

Rogers'  origin-il  company  uf  Rangers  was  then  officered  as  follows : 

Robert  Roger Sy  Captain. 

John  Start,  Kirst  Lieutenant. 

John  MeCurdy,  Second  Lieutenant. 

Jonathan  Burhank,  Ensign. 

— Report  of  Adjutant  Genoa!  of  N.  H.,   1866,  ii,  158. 

About   the    first    of  December,   1756,    the    Corps  of  Rangers  aug 
mented  by  two  companies,  wasofficeied  in  part  as  follows : 

Hobbi,  Captain. 

Bu/k/ey,  Lieutenant. 

Sfnieman,  Captain. 

Kennedy,  Lieutenant. 

Bretver,  En.i.n 

In  the  Spring  of  1759,  a  new  c  )mp3ny  of  R.ingers  was  formed,  of 
troops  from  New  Jersey,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Burgin. 

f  Nathaniel  Abbot,  was  born  in  Andover,  Mass.,  in  1709,  and 
when  about  thirty  years  old,  settled  in  Penacook,  N.  H.,  of  which  he 
was  an  enterprising  and  useful  citizen.     He  died  in  1770. 

— Boulon'i  Hilt,  of  Concord  —  p.  131. 


56  Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


and  Caleb  Page  his  Ensign.*  John  Stark,  formerly 
my  Second  Lieutenant,  was  appointed  my  First, 
John  McCurdy  succeec'td  to  his  place,  and  Jonathan 
Burbank  was  appointed  my  Ensign. 

August  2,  1756.  Agreeable  to  orders  received  of 
General  Abercrombie  at  Albany,  the  23(^  of  July,  I 
embarked  this  day  at  Fort  William  Henry,  on  board 
one  of  the  lighters  built  there  this  summer,  with 
twenty  one  ot  my  company,  in  order  to  reconnoitre 
the  enemy  at  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  and 
sixty  men  under  Capt.  Larnard  of  the  provincials, 
who  had  General  Winslow'sf  orders  to  proceed  with 
his  men  to  the  French  acUanccd  guard  ;  but  he  not 
being  acquainted  with  thtr  way  thither,  put  himself 
under  my  command.  We  landed  this  morning  about 
fifteen  miles  down  Lake  George,  and  proceedtd  with 
the  party  till  the  4th  in  the  evening,  and  encamped 
about  a  mile  from  the  advanced  guard.  The  5th  in 
the  morning  mustered  the  whole  party  and  got  to 
the  summit  of  a  hill,  west  of  the  advanced  guard 
where  we  discovered  two  advanced  posts  which  1  then 
imagined  was  the  whole  of  the  jiuard,  one  of  them 
on  the  west  side,  half  a  mile  southward  of  Lake 
Champlain,  the  other  on  the  east  side  of  the  Lake 
opposite  the  former,  at  the  old  Indian  carrying- 
place.  We  judged  there  were  about  400  men 
on    the    east,   and    200    on    the   west.       After    de- 


*  Caleb  Page,  Jr.,  son  of  a  prominent  citizen  of  the  same  name, 
was  from  Dunbarton,  N.  H.,  the  home  of  Major  Rogers.  He  was 
killed  in  the  battle  fought  J^n'y.,  iid,  1757. 

He  is  said  to  have  been  the  hjndsomest  man  of  the  Page  family. 

Siari't   Hist,   of  DuntaUon,  N.  H.,  189. 

f  General  Winslow  commanded  the  provincial  troops  this  year,  by 
virtue  of  a  commission  from  the  several  provinces,  who  were  concerned 
in  175S1  in  the  same  expedition,  and  was  new  with  the  greatest  part 
of  the  provincial  troops  at  Lake  George. — Note  by  rhe  j1ui\\or 


T^ 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.   57 

liberating  with  Capt.  Larnard  upon  the  strength, 
and  disposition  of  the  enemy,  and  the  report  of  our 
advanced  party,  we  concluded  it  unadvisable  to  con- 
tinue there  any  longer.  He  returned  towards  Fort 
William  Henry,  and  I  went  on  with  my  own  party 
till  we  came  vithin  view  of  Ticondcroga  Fort,  where 
from  an  eminence,  I  discovered  the  situation,  but 
could  not  ascertain  the  strength  of  it  to  my  satisfac- 
tion. 

August  6,  I  went  down  towards  Crown  Point,  by 
the  west  side  of  Lake  Champlain,  and  discovered 
several  battoes  passing  from  that  place  to  Ticondcro- 
ga with  troops  on  board.  We  then  proceeded  to  the 
place,  where  we  burned  the  vilhige,  as  mentioned  be- 
fore, and  there  encamped,  and  perceived  a  party  sally- 
ing out,  driving  a  number  of  horses  to  feed. 

The  7ih  we  lay  in  ambush  by  the  road,  with  a 
design  to  intercept  such  as  might  come  out  to  drive 
in  the  cattle  ;  but  no  one  appearing  for  that  purpose, 
we  approached  nearer,  to  within  half  a  mile  of  the 
fort,  where  we  were  discovered  by  two  Frenchmen, 
before  they  were  in  our  power.  This  accident 
obliged  us  to  make  a  retreat,  in  which  we  killed  up- 
wards of  forty  cattle.  We  arrived  at  Fort  William 
Henry,  August  lo. 

A  company  of  Stockbridge  Indians  was  this  year 
[employed  in  his  Majesty's  service,  commanded  by 
j  Indian  officers,  properly  commissioned  by  General 
Shirley,  before  he  was  superseded  in  his  command. 
iGcneral  Abercombie  was  somewhat  at  a  loss  how  to 
jdispose  of  this  company,  and  applied  to  Sir  William 
Ijohnson,  who  advised,  that  a  part,*  viz.:  thirty  privates 


*  The  remainder  of  this  Indian  company  with  their  Captain,  were 
ent  to  Saratoga,  to  be  under  the  direction  of  Colonel  Burton. 

Noie  by  the  jiutier. 


58   'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 

and  a  Lieutenant,  should  scout  and  scour  the  woods 
under  my  direction,  which  party  had  arrived  while  I 
was  out  upon  my  last  scout,  and  Lieutenant  Stark 
had  strengthened  their  parly  with  some  of  our  peo- 
ple, and  sent  them  out  with  particular  directions 
what  route  to  take,  the  day  before  I  arrived. 

About  this  time  his  Excellency,  the  Earl  of  Lou- 
doun, ariived  in  Albany,  and  had  taken  upon  him  the 
command  of  the  iirmy,  to  whom  I  applied  as  I  had 
done  before,  to  Gen.  Abercrombie,  transmitting  to 
him  an  account  of  the  Indian  scout  above  mentioned 
(who  returned  the  13th  with  two  French  scalps, 
agreeable  to  their  barbarous  custom)  and  desiring 
that  with  them  I  might  attempt  to  penetrate  into 
Canada  and  distress  the  inhabitants,  by  burning  their 
harvest  (now  nearly  ripe)  and  destroying  their  cattle. 

Accordingly,  August    16,  we  embarked  in  whale- 
boats  in  two  departments,   the  one  commanded  by 
I^ifutenant  Stark,  the  other  by  myself.     The  next 
morning  we  joined  each  other,  at  which  time  also  fell 
in    with    us    a  party     of    eight    Mohocks,  who  had 
marched  out  from  Fort  William  Henry  the  day  be- 
fore.    We  then  marched  directly  to  the  place  where 
we  left  our  whale-boats  the  7th  of  July,  proceeding 
about  twenty-five  miles  northward  of  Crown  Point 
fort,  on  the  west  side  of  Lake  Champlain,  where  wej 
all  (excepting  one  n>an  who  strayed  from  us  and  re- 
turned) arrived  safe  the  24th.      VVe  embarked  again  I 
in  our  boats,  and  steered  down  the  lake  towards  St.  | 
John's.     The  25th  we  proceeded  twenty  miles  fur- 
ther, and  about  midnight  discovered  a  schooner  stand-l 
ing  up    the    lake    with    a  fair  wind  towards  Crown 
Point  }  they  passed  us  so  swiftly  that  we  could  not 
possibly  board  her,  as  we  intended. 

The  26th  we  landed,  and  the  Mohocks  left  us  to| 
join  another  party  of  theirs,  then  out  on  a  scout. 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.   59 

The  27th  we  got  on  a  point,  W\ih  a  design  to  in- 
tercept the  enemy's  baitoes  that  might  pass  up  and 
down  the  lake;  but  not  discovering  any,  and  our 
provisions  growing  short,  we  returned  up  the  lake, 
and  landed  eight  miles  north  of  the  fort  at  Crown 
Point,  on  the  east  side  of  the  lake. 

The  2gth  in  the  morning  we  marched  to  a  village 
lying  east  of  the  fort,  and  in  our  way  took  prisoners, 
a  man,  his  wife  and  daughter,  (a  girl  about  fourteen 
years  of  age)  ;  with  these  prisoners  we  returned,  and 
arrived  safe  at  Fort  William  Henry,  Sept.  22,  1756. 

The  man-prisoner,  above  mentioned,  upon  exami- 
nation, reported  :  "That  he  was  born  at  Vaisac,  in 
"the  Province  of  Gui.nne,  in  France;  that  he  had 
"been  in  Canada  about  fifteen  years,  and  in  the  colo- 
"nies  service  about  six,  and  two  years  at  Crown 
"Point;  that  there  were  only  300  men  at  Crown 
"Point,  and  those  chiefly  inhabitants  of  the  adjacent 
"villages  ;  that  there  were  4000  men  at  Ticonderoga 
"or  Carillon,  1500  of  which  were  regular  troops, 
"who  had  a  sufficiency  of  all  kinds  of  provisions  ; 
"that  he  never  was  at  Ticonderoga  or  at  the  advance 
"guard,  but  heard  there  were  only  fifteen  men  at  the 
"latter;  that  the  French  had  600  Indians  at  Ticon- 
*'deroga,  and  expected  b^o  more;  that  1200  were 
"arrived  at  Quebec  for  Carillon,  which  last  1800 
*'wete  under  the  command  of  iVlons.  Scipio  de  la 
"Masure  ;  that  they  had  a  great  quantity  of  cannon, 
"mortars,  shells,  &c.,  at  Ticonderoga,  but  he  did  not 
"know  the  number  or  quantity  ;  that  they  expected 
I*Mhe  above  reinforcement  in  two  or  three  days  at 
'  Ticonderoga,  having  sent  boats  to  Montical  to  fetch 
'  them  :  that  they  understood  by  a  letter  that  Oswego 
'  h;)d  fallen  into  their  hands,  but  the  news  was  not 
'confirmed  :  that  they  had  heard  we  intended  to  in- 
*  vest  Carillon,  but  did  not    know  what    movements 


6o  journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 


i( 


were  intended  on  their  side  should  we  neglect  it : 
"that  they  had  150  battoes  on  Lake  Champlain, 
*'  which  were  kept  at  Carillon,  thirty-five  of  which 
"constantly  plied  between  Montreal  and  that  fortress  : 
"that  Mons.  Moncalm  commanded  at  Frontiniac 
"with  5,000  men,  but  did  not  know  whether  these 
"  troops  were  regulars  or  provincials :  that  a  great 
"  number  of  vessels  had  arrived  at  Canada  with  pro- 
"  visions  and  military  stores  :  that  they  heard  we  had 
"several  ships  in  the  river  Lawrence:  that  Mons. 
**  de  Conti;  de  Levi  commanded  at  Carillon,  and  came 
"  last  May  from  France  ;  and  that,  since  the  two  last 
"  shiilops  or  lighters  (before  mentioned)  were  taken, 
"  thoy  had  augmented  the  number  of  men  on  board  the 
"  large  schooner  in  Lake  Champlain  from  twelve 
"  to  thirty." 

Upon  my  return  to  the  fort,  I  received  orders  from 
mv  Lord  Loudon  to  wait  upon  Col.  Burton,  of  the 
48ih  regiment,  for  instructions,  he  being  then  posted 
at  Saratoga.  By  him  I  was  ordered  to  return  to  my 
company  at  Fort  William  Henry,  and  march  them  to 
the  South  Bav,  thence  east  to  the  Wood  Creek, then 
to  cross  it  southerly,  opposite  to  Saratoga,  and  return 
and  make  my  report  to  him. 

In  this  tour  we  apprehended  four  deserters  from 
Otway's  regiment,  who  were  going  to  the  enemy, 
and  whom  I  sent  back  to  Fort  Edward,  with  a  part 
of  my  detachment,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant 
Stark,  and  proceeded  with  the  remainder  to  complete 
my  orders,  after  which  I  returned  to  Saratoga  to  make 
my  report. 

There  I  met  my  brother  Capt.  Richard  Rogers 
with  his  company,  he  being  ordered  back  from  Mo- 
hock river,  to  join  me  with  tfic  remainder  of  the 
Stockbridge  Indi.ins ;  and  I  marched  both  companies 
to  Fort  Edward,  where  I  was  ordered  to  form  an  en- 


'journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.    6i 


campment.  A  part  of  the  Indian  company  were  sent 
out  on  the  east  side  ot  Lake  Champlain  to  alarm  the 
enemy  at  Ticonderoga,  whilst  I,  with  a  detachment 
of  my  own,  and  Capt.  Richard  Rogers's  company, 
was  ordered  on  another  party  down  Lake  George,  in 
whale  boats,  and  the  remainder  of  the  companies  were 
employed  in  reconnoitering  round  the  encampment, 
and  also  served  as  flankers  to  the  parties  that  guarded 
proviNions  to  Lake  George.  Capt.  Jacob,  uho  com- 
manded the  Indian  party  before  mentioned,  returned 
two  days  before  me  with  four  Fretch  scalps,  which 
they  took  opposite  to  Ticonderoga  on  the  east  side. 

Sept.  7,  1756.  Agreeable  to  orders,  I  this  day 
embarked  on  Lake  George,  with  a  partv  of  fourteen 
men  in  a  whale-boat,  which  we  landed  and  concealed 
the  evening  following,  on  the  east  shore,  about  four 
nnles  south  of  the  Krcnch  advance  guard.  Here  I 
divided  my  party,  taking  seven  men  wnh  me,  leaving 
the  remainder  -n  chaige  of  Mr.  Chalmer  (a  volunteer 
sent  me  by  Sir  John  Sinclair)  with  ordeis,  upon  his 
discovering  the  enemy's  boats  going  up  the  lake,  &c., 
to  mak«*  the  best  of  his  way  wuh  ihe  intelligence  to 
Fort  William  Henrv. 

I  was  the  9th  current  within  half  a  mile  of  Ticon- 
deroga fort,  where  I  endeavored  to  reconnoitre  the 
enemy's  woiks  and  stiength.  They  were  engaged 
in  rai>ingthe  walls  of  the  fort,  and  had  erected  a  large 
blotk-house  rtu  he  south-east  corner  of  the  fort, 
with  ports  in  'X  f  ^r  canu'Mi.  East  frtjm  the  block- 
house was  .'  battery,  which  I  imagined  comrranded 
the  lake.  I  di»;covered  five  houses  S(»uth  of  the  fort 
close  to  the  water  side,  and  160  t»'nts  south-west  of 
tlie  fort,  and  twenty-seven  battocs  hauled  upon  the 
beach. 

Next  morning  with  oiic  private,   I  went   to  vie'v 
the  falls  betwixt  Lake  Champlain  and  Lake  George 


\      I 


62  Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


(where  I  had  heard  the  explosion  of  several  guns  the 
evening  before,  and  had  at  that  time  sent  Sergeant 
Henry  to  discover  the  reason  of  it)  leaving  the  re- 
mainder of  my  party  in  chargt*  of  Mr.  Gibbs,  another 
volunteer,  to  wait  our  rt-turn.  Sergeant  Htnry  followed 
soon  after  me,  and  reported,  "that  the  French  were 
"building  a  small  fort  at  the  head  of  the  falls  on  the 
"east-side  of  the  lakf;  that  he  also  discovered  their 
**  guard  to  the  westward,  and  imagined  both  con- 
"  sisted  of  500  men."  I  returned,  after  findi.'ig  the 
French  were  cn^a'^jcd  in  buildmg  a  saw-mill  at  the 
lower  end  of  the  fills,  and  founil  mv  boats,  wiih  pro- 
visions left,  as  I  suppose,  by  Mr.  Chalmer  and  his 
party,  whom  I  waited  for  till  seven  o'clock  next  dav  , 
but  he  not  returning;,  and  I  judging  from  their  tracks 
that  thev  were  returned  to  Fort  VVilJjani  Henry,  we 
likewise  hej^an  our  return,  atui  arrived  safe  the  nth 
of   September,  where  1  found    Mr.  C'halmer  and    the 


partv  left  with  him,  he  having  punctually  obeyed 

I 


orders   given   nim  anove 


U 


pon    my  return,   1  ci 


municated   mv  observations  upon  the  Lakes  George 
and  Ct  amplaui   to  mv  Lord  Loudoun,  giving  him  as 


I 


just  a  description  as  I  could  or  iheir  situation. 

September  24,  (i-n.-ral  Abcrcronibie  issued  out 
orders,  that  three  commissioned  oflicersof  the  Rangers, 
with  20  privates  each,  shouM  reconnoitre  the  VVood 
Creek,  South  Bay,  and  Ticonderoga  j  and  these  were 
alternately  sent  out,  so  that  a  continual  scout  was 
kept  up  for  a  considerable  time. 

October  22,  1756.  The  greatest  part  of  the  army 
was  now  at  Foit  Kdward,  umler  the  command  of 
General  Abercrombie,  and  Lord  Loudoun  arriving 
about  this  time  with  the  remainder,  it  was  geneially 
expected  that  the  army  would  cross  the  lake,  and  en- 
deavour to  reduce  the  French  forts,  notwithstanding 
the    season  was  so    tar  advanced  ^  but  his  Lordship! 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.    63 


IS  the 
geant 
ne  re- 
lothcr 
lowed 
I  were 
jn  the 
I  their 
\    con- 
tig  the 
at   the 
ih  pro- 
md   his 
Kt  dav  , 
r  tracks 


talcing  into  consideration  the  probability  that  those 
lakes  would  freeze  (which  they  generally  do  in  the 
month  of  December)  in  which  case  no  supplies  could 
he  had  from,  nor  any  communication  kept  up  with 
P'ort  William  Henry  ;  he  detei  mined  to  desist  from 
this  design  and  contenteu  himself  with  keeping  the 
Beld  till  Mons.  Montcalm  retired  to  winter-quarters, 
and  accordingly  sought  all  opportunities  to  learn  his 
situation  and  movements. 

Agreeable  to  orders  from  his  Lordship,  I  this  day 
embarked  in  two  whale-boats,  with  a  party  of  twenty 
men,  upon  Lake  George,  with  an  intent  to  bring  a 
prisoner  from  Ticonderoga.  We  passed  the  Narrows 
twenty  miles  from  our  embarkation,  when  Capt. 
Shephard  (who  was  made  a  captive  in  August  last, 
ind  tarried  to  Canada)  hailed  our  boat  ;  I  knew  his 
voice,  and  !ook  him  on  board  with  three  other  men, 
one  of  whom  was  taken  with  him.  He  reported, 
that  he  left  C^inaJa  fifteen  days  before.  I  went  on 
mv  course  till  the  2']i\\y  towards  Carillon,  and  landed 
that  night  on  the  west-side  cA  the  lake,  concealed  our 
[boat,  and  travelled  by  land  to  within  a  mile  of  the 
fort.  I  kept  spies  out  the  day  after  to  improve  any 
opportunity  that  might  offer,  and  the  next  day  sent 
llhem  still  nearer,  but  to  no  good  purpose ,-  I  at  length 
iiscovered  two  men,  ccntries  to  the  piquet  guard  of 
ic  French  army,  one  of  which  was  posted  on  the 
road  that  leads  from  the  fort  to  the  woods ;  I  took 
ivc  of  my  I  arty,  and  marched  directly  down  the  road 
In  the  middle  of  the  day,  till  we  were  challenged  by 
ie  ccntry.  I  answered  in  French,  signifying  that 
w  were  friends  ;  the  centinel  was  thereby  deceived, 
1  I  came  close  to  him,  when  perceiving  his  mistake, 
jj;rcat  surprize  he  callt'd,  i^«/  etcs  vous  ?  I  answered, 
Rogers,"  and  led  him  from  his  post  in  great  haste, 


64   'journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 

cutting  his  breeches  and  coat  from  him,  that  he  might 

march  with  the  greater  ease  and  expedition.     With 

this  prisoner  we  arrived  at  Fort  William  Henry,  Oct. 

ji,  1756.     Upon  examination,  he  reported,  "That 

he  belonged  to  the  regiment  of  Languedoc  \  that  he 

left  Brest  last  April  was  a  twelve-month,  and  had 

served   since  at  Lake  Champlain,  Crown  Point,  and 

Carillon,  was  last    year  with    General    Dieskaw  in 

the  battle  at  Fort  William   Henry  :  that  they  lost  in 

that  engagement  of  regulars,  Canadians,  and  Indians, 

a  great   number  :   that  at  Carillon   were  at  this    time 

mounted   thirty-six    pieces    of    cannon,  viz.    twelve 

eighteen  pounders,  fifteen  twelve  pounders,  and  nine 

eight  pounders:  that  at  Crown  Point  were  eighteen! 

pieces,  the  largest  of  which  were  eighteen  pounders:! 

"  that  Mons.  Montcalm's  forces  this  year  at  Cariliorij 

were  3000  regulars,  and  2000  Canadians  and  Indians: 

that  Montcalm   himself  was  drawn  off  with  one  hat*] 

talion,  and  that  the  forces  then  in  that  neighborhood 

consisted  of  five  battalions  and  about  800  Canadians  I 

that    the  Indians  were  all  gone  off,    200  of  whoinl 

talked  of  returning  to  spend  the  winter  at  Carillon: 

that  the  advanced  guard   on  the  west  side  above  thtj 

falls  were  all   drawn  in,  and  that   on   the  east  cunj 

sisted  of  600  men,  who  were   to  decamp  the   istoi 

November:  that  they  had  a  camp  of  five  battalionJ 

and  sixtv  Canaditins,  about  half  a  league  fiom  Canij 

Ion,  and  that  the  rest  of  the  army  were  under  the  fortf 

that  they  had  barracks  sufficient  for  500  men,  whicj 

he  understood  were  to  quarter  there:  that  they  Hal 

one  schooner  <:nd  200  battoes  on  Lake  ChamplairJ 

and  but  five  or  six  on  Lake  George  :  that  Mons.  tt'l 

Chevalier  de  Levi  commanded  in  Motis.  Moncalmf 

absence,  and  that  the  Canadians  were  commanded ''' 

Messieurs  le  Corn  and  Columbie  :  that  when  Muj 

iicur  Montcalm  went  off,  he  said  he  had  done  enouJ 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.  65 


for  this  ye;»r,  and  would  take  Fort  William  Henry 
early  in  the  spring:  that  the  French  had  taken  four 
of  Captain  Rogers's  whale  boats  in  Lake  Champlain  : 
that  when  he  was  taken  prisoner,  he  imagined  him- 
self to  be  about  a  gun-shot  and  a  half  from  the  fort, 
and  that  the  French  camp  was  pretty  healthy." 

From  this  time  we  were  constantly  employed  in 
patrolling  the  woods  about  Fort  Edward  till  the  19th 
of  November,  1756,  when  I  had  his  Lordship's  or- 
ders to  take  another  excursion  down  the  Lake. 
Captain  Abercrombie,  Aid-de-camp  and  nephew  to 
General  Abercrombie,  did  me  the  honour  to  ac- 
company me ;  but  nothing  material  being  in  our 
power  to  effect,  except  taking  a  view  of  the 
fort  and  works  of  the  enemy  at  Ticonderoga, 
we  returned  safe  to  Fort  Edward  the  25th  in  the 
evening. 

About  this  time  his  Lordship  drew  off  the  main 
body  of  the  troops  from  F'ort  Edward  to  be  quartered 
at  Albany  and  New  York. 

Both  armies  being  now  retired  to  winter-quarters, 
nothing  material  happened  to  the  end  of  this  vear. 
The  rangers  were  stationed  at  the  Forts  William 
Henry  and  Edward,  to  which  also  two  new  cuDpa- 
nies  of  rangers  were  sent  this  fall,  commanded  by 
Captain  Spikeman  and  Captain  Hobbs,  in  one  of 
which  my  brother  James  Rogers  was  appointed  an 
Ensign.* 

Phese  two  companies  were  stationed  at  Fort  Wil 
liam  Henry,  mine  and  my  brother  Richard's  at  Fort 
Edward. 

Captain  Richard  Rogers  had  leave  to  go  into  New 


*  Cjpt.  Spikrman  and  Lieut  Kennedy  were  killed  on  nut  expedition. 
The  former  was  sun  ceded  in  cummand  by  Lieut.  John  Stark,  Major 
General  in  'he  Revoluuoa. 


"p*ssaa 


66   'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

England  for  recruits  to  complete  our  two  companies. 
He  this  winter  waited  upon  the  government  of  Bos- 
ton, to  obtain  pay  for  our  services  in  the  winter  1 755 
before  mentioned,  but  could  obtain  none,  notwith- 
standing Lord  Loudoun,  who  was  then  at  Boston, 
generously  supported  and  enforced  our  solicitations 
with  his  interest. 

January  15,  1757.  Agreeable  to  orders  from  the 
commanding  officer  at  Fort  Edward,  I  this  day 
marched  with  my  own  Lieutenant  Mr.  Stark,  En- 
sign Page  of  Captain  Richard  Roger's  company,  and 
fifty  privates  of  said  companies,  to  Fort  William 
Henry,  where  we  were  employed  in  providing  pro- 
visions, snow-shoes,  &c.,  till  the  17th,  when  being 
joined  by  Captain  Spikeman,  Lieutenant  Kennedy 
and  Ensign  Brewer  of  his  company,  and  fourteen  of 
their  men,  together  with  Ensign  James  Rogers  and 
fourteen  men  of  Captain  Hobbs's  company,  and  Mr. 
Baker,*  a  volunteer  of  the  44th  regiment  of  foot,  we 
began  our  march  on  the  ice  down  Lake  George,  and 
at  night  encamped  on  the  east-side  of  the  First  Nar- 
rows. The  next  morning,  finding  that  some  of  the 
detachment  had  hurt  themselves  in  the  march  the 
day  before,  as  many  were  dismissed  to  return  to  the 
fort,  as  reduced  our  party  to  seventy-four  men,  offi- 
cers included. 

The  1 8th  we  marched  twelve  miles  down  the 
lake,  and  encamped  on  the  west  side  of  it. 

The  I9ih  we  marched  three  n»iles  from  our  en- 
campment further  down  the  liike,  and  then  took  the 
land,  and,  upon  snow-shoes,  travelled  north  west 
about  eight  miles  from  our  landing,  and  three  from 
the  lake,  where  we  encamped. 

The  20th  we  marched  north-bv-east  the  whole 
day,  and  at  night  encamped  on  the  western  side,  op- 

*  Mr.  Uaker  wii  killed  on  thit  eip^dition. 


journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,   67 

posite  to  and  about  three  miles  distant  from  Lake 
Champlain. 

The  21st  we  marched  east,  till  we  came  to  the 
lake,  about  mid-way  between  Crown  Point  and  Ti- 
conderoga,  and  immediately  discovered  a  sled  going 
from  the  latter  to  the  former.  I  ordered  Lieutenant 
Stark,  with  twenty  men,  to  head  the  sled,  while  I, 
with  a  party,  marched  the  other  way  to  prevent  its 
retreating  back  again,  leaving  Captain  Spikeman  in 
the  center  with  the  remainder.  I  soon  discovered 
eight  or  ten  sleds  more  following  down  the  lake,  and 
endeavored  to  give  Mr.  Stark  intelligence  of  it 
before  he  sallied  on  the  lake  and  discovered  himself 
to  them,  but  could  not.  They  all  hastily  returned 
towards  Ticonderoga.  We  pursued  them,  and  took 
seven  prisoners,  three  sleds  and  six  horses  ;  the  re- 
mainder made  their  escape.  We  examined  the  cap- 
tives separately,  who  reported  :  "That  200  Cana- 
"dians  and  45  Indians  were  just  arrived  at  Ticonde- 
"roga,  and  were  to  be  reinforced  that  evening,  or 
"next  morning,  by  fifty  Indians  more  from  Crown 
"Point }  that  there  were  600  regular  troops  at  that 
"fortress,  and  350  at  Ticonderoga,  where  they  soon 
"expected  a  large  number  of  troops,  who  in  the 
"spring  were  to  besiege  our  forts  i  that  they  had 
"large  magazines  of  provisions  in  their  forts,  and 
"that  the  above  mentioned  party  were  well  equipped, 
"and  in  a  condition  to  march  upon  any  emergency  at 
"the  least  notice,  and  were  designed  soon  to  way-lay 
"and  distress  our  convoys  between  the  forts." 

From  this  account  of  things,  and  knowing  that 
those  who  escaped  would  give  early  notice  of  us  at 
Ticonderoga,  I  concluded  it  best  to  return  \  and  or- 
dered the  party,  with  the  utmost  expedition,  to 
march  to  the  fires  we  had  kindled  the  night  before, 
and  prepare  for  a  battle,  if  it  should  be  offered,  by 


^i"^^ 


68  Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


trying  our  guns,  it  being  a   rainy  day,  which  we  ef- 
fected }  and  then  marched  in  a  single  file,  myself  and 
Lieutenant  Kennedy   in   the  front.  Lieutenant  Stark 
in   the  rear,   and    Captain   Spikeman  in   the  center. 
Ensigns   Page  and   Rogers   were   between  ihe  front 
and  center,  and  Ensign   Brewer   between  the  center 
and  rear,  Serjeant  Walker  having  the  command  of  a 
rear  guard.     In  this  manner  we  advanced  half  a  mile, 
or  therabouts,  over  broken  ground,  when  passing  a 
Talley  of  about  fifteen  rods  breadth,  the  front  having 
reached  the  summit  of  a   hill  on  the  west  side  of  it ; 
the  enemy,  who  had  here  drawn  up  in  the  form  of  a 
half-moon,  with  a  design,  as  we  supposed,  to   sur- 
round us,  saluted  us  with  a  volley  of  about  200  shot, 
at  the  distance  of  about  five  yards  from  the  nearest, 
or    front,   and  thirty    from    the    rear  of  their  party. 
This  fire  was  about  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
and  proved  fatal  to  Lieutenant  Kennedy,  and    Mr. 
Gardner,  a  volunteer  in  my  company,  and  wounded 
me  and  several  others ;   myself,  however,  but  slightly 
in  the  head.     We  immediately  returned  their  fire.     I 
then  ordered  my  men  to  the  opposite  hill,  where  I 
supposed  Lieutenant  Stark  and   Ensign   Brewer  had 
made  a  stand  with  forty  men  to  cover  us,  in  case  we 
were  obliged  to  retreat.     We  were  closolv  pursued, 
and  Capt.  Spikeman,  with  several  of  the  party,  were 
killed,  and  others  made  prisoners.      My  people,  how- 
ever, beat  them  back  by  a  brisk  fire  from  the  hill, 
which  gave  us  an  opportunity  to  ascend  and  post  our- 
selves to  advantage.     After  which  I  ordered  Lieuten- 
ant Stark  and  Mr.  Baker  in  the  center,  with  Ensign 
Rogers  ;  Serjeants  Waiter  and  Phillips,  wi\h  a  party, 
being  a  reserve,  to  prevent  our  being   flanked,  and 
watch  the  motions   of   the  enemy.     Soon  after  we 
had  thus  formed  ourselves  for  battle,  the  enemy  at- 
tempted to  flank  us  on  the  right,  but  the  above  re- 


journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.  69 


serve  bravely  attacked  them,  and  giving  them  the 
first  fire  very  briskly^  it  stopped  several  from  retreat- 
ing to  the  main  body.  The  enemy  then  pushed  us 
closely  in  the  front  ;  but  having  the  advantage  of  the 
ground,  and  being  sheltered  by  large  trees,  we  main- 
tained a  continual  fire  upon  them,  which  killed  sev- 
eral, and  obliged  the  rest  to  retire  to  their  main  body. 
They  then  attempted  to  flank  us  again,  but  were 
again  met  by  our  reserved  party,  and  repulsed.  Mr. 
Baker  about  this  time  was  killed.  We  maintained  a 
pretty  constant  fire  on  both  sides,  till  the  darkness 
prevented  our  seeing  each  other,  and  about  sun-set  I 
received  a  ball  thro'  my  hand  and  wrist,  which  dis- 
abled me  from  loading  my  gun.  I  however  found 
means  to  keep  my  people  from  being  intimidated  by 
this  accident  ;  they  gallantly  kept  their  advantageous 
situation,  till  the  fire  ceased  on  both  sides.  The 
enemy,  during  the  action,  used  many  arts  and  strata- 
gems to  induce  us  to  submit,  sometimes  threatening 
us  with  severity  if  we  refused,  assuring  us  that  they 
j every  moment  expected  a  large  reinforcement,  which 
should  cut  us  to  pieces  without  mercy  ;  at  other 
times  flattering  and  cajolling  us,  declaring  it  was  a 
jpity  so  many  brave  men  should  be  lost  ;  that  we 
|lhould,  upon  our  surrender,  be  treated  with  the  great- 
est compassion  and  kindness  ;  calling  me  by  name, 
they  gave  nie  the  strongest  assurances  of  their  esteem 
ind  friendship  that  words  could  do  ;  but  no  one  be- 
ing dismayed  by  their  menances,  or  flattered  by  fair 
womises,  we  told  them  our  numbers  were  sufticient, 
Ind  that  we  were  determined  to  keep  our  ground  as 
)ng  as  there  were  two  left  to  stand  by  each  other. 
After  the  action,  in  which  we  had  a  great  number 
severely  wounded  that  they  could  not  travel  with- 
it  assistance,  and  our  ammunition  being  nearly  ex- 
tnded,  and  considering  that  we  were  near  to  Ticon- 


JO  Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


deroga,  from  whence  the  enemy  might  easily  make  a 
descr-nt,  and  overpower  us  by  numbers,  I  thought  it 
expedient  to  take  the  advantage  of  the  night  to  re- 
treat, and  gave  orders  accordingly,  and  the  next 
morning  arrived  at  Lake  George,  about  six  miles 
south  of  the  French  advanced  guard,  from  whence  I 
dispatched  Lieutenant  Stark  with  two  men  to  Vox\ 
William  Henry,  to  procure  conveyances  for  our 
wounded  men  thither  ;  and  the  next  morning  v/c 
were  met  by  a  partv  of  fifteen  men  and  a  sled,  under 
the  command  oi  Lieutenant  Buckley,  of  Hobbs's 
company  of  Rar,gers,  at  the  first  narrows  at  Lake 
George.  Our  whole  party,  which  now  consisted  of 
only  forty-eight  eft'ective,  and  six  wounded  men,  ar- 
rived at  Fort  William  Henry  the  same  evening,  be- 
ing the  23d  of  January,  1757.* 


*  This  engagement  ij  located  by  Mr.  Watson  in  hit  hiitory  of  Eisei 
Co.,  (p.  64,)  ai  near  the  residence  of  M.  U.  Tuwniend,  in  the  town 
of  Criiwn  Point. 

In  Mr.  Stark'i  edition  of  Rogers'  Journals,  the  following  note  ii 
given  : 

"In  regard  to  the  battle  of  January  ii,  1757,  the  late  venerable  Mr 
Shute,  of  Concord,  remarked  that   Rogers  did  not  act  with   his  usual 
prudence.      He  states  that  after  taking  the  sleds,  a  council  of  war  jd 
vised   to    return    by    a   different  route  from  that   by   which  the  part*! 
came,  which  was  the  usual  practice  of  the  Rangers,  and  on  this  ucci' 
•ion,    would    have    enabled  them   to  escape  the  hazards  of  a    battle 
Rogers   however,  said   in  regard   to  the  enemy,  that  they   would  not 
dare  to  pursue  him,  and   took  the  sjme  route  back.      The  first  notictj 
the   Rangers  had  of  the  enemy   was  the   noise  in  cocking  their  t;uni,j 
which  Shute  supposed  was  one  of  the  rangers  preparing  to  kill  a  part' 
ridge.      He  was  himself  struck  senseless  by  a  shot,  which  ploughed  tht^ 
top  of  his  head  ;  on   coming   to  himself,  the  first  sight  which  met  hi 
eyes,  was  one  of  the  Rangers  cutting  off  Rogers'  cue  to  stop  the  hole  ill 
his  wiist,   through   which  a  shot  had  passed.     On  the  night  of  thciil 
retreat,  the  Rangers  made  a  circuit,  to  avoid  a  large  fire  in  the  woodil 
supposing  the  Indians  were  there.     This  caused   them   to  lose  time  •:[ 
that  Joshui  Morton,   who  had  kindled  the  fire  to  warm  himself,  w«| 
enabled  to  follow,  and  get  in  sight  of  them,  on  the  lake;  otherwise 
must  have  perished." 

Siari'i  Reminitceniti  of  tkt  Frtnck  ffar.      (p.  36 1 


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'Journals  of  Major  Roi'ert  Rogers.  j\ 

The  nearest  compulation  we  could  make  of  the 
number  which  attacked  us,  was,  that  it  consisted  of 
about  250  French  and  Indians  ;  and  we  afterwards 
had  an  account  from  the  ciu-my,  that  their  loss  in 
this  action,  of  those  killed,  and  who  afterwards  died 
o\  their  wounds,  amounted  to  116  men. 

Both  the  officers  and  soldiers  I  had  the  honour  to 
command,  who  survived  the  first  onset,  behaved 
with  the  most  undaunted  bravery  and  resolution,  and 
seemed  to  vie  with  each  other  in  their  respective 
stations  who  should  excel.' 

Having  laid  this  return  before  Major  Sparks,  com- 
manding officer  at   Fort  Edward,  he  transmitted  the 
same  to  the  General  ;  and  the  30th  of  January   fol- 
lowing, I   wrote  to  Capt.  James  Abercrombie,  then 
at  Albany,  recommending  such  officers  as  I  thought 
most  deserving,  to  fill  up  the  vacancies  occasiotied 
by  our  late  action,  among    whom   were  Lieutenant 
J  Stark  to  be  Captain  of  Spikeman's  company,  and  Ser- 
Ijcaiit  Joshua  Martin  to  be  Ensign  in  Captain  Richard 
jRoger's   company  ;    and    I    also    mentioned    several 
[things  in   favour  of   the  Rangers.     In  consequence 
Whereof,  I  received  the  following  answer: 


Alhany  Feb.  6,    1 757. 


)ear  Sir  : 


"The  General  received  your  letter  that  was  sent 

>y    Major  Sparks,    and    returns  you  and  your    men 

lanks  tor    their    behaviour,    and    has   recommended 

both  you  and  them  strongly  to  my   Lord  Loudoun,  as 

llso  that   they  have  payment  for  the  prisoners  they 


'A  detailed  account  of  this  expedition  is  given  by  Dr.    Asa  Kitch,  in 
I  survey  of  Washington  County. 
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72  Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


The  following   is  the   Return    which   was   made   of  the  Killed, 
Wounded  and  Missing,  in  the  above  action,  vi«. : 


Capt.  Robert  Rogers 
Mr.    Baker,   Volunteer 
Mr.  Gardner,  ditto 
I'homas  Henson, 
Serjeant  Martin 
rhomas  Burnside 
Sarjeant  Henry 
William  Morris 
John  Morrison 

Wounded 

>s 
C 
M 
Cb 

E 
o 
O 

-: 

e 

M 

Killed 
ditto 
ditto 



ditto 
ditto 

- 

Missing, 
ditto 
ditto 

ditto 

o 

-o 

M 

w 

OS 

o 
B< 

■o 

ei 

U 

Joseph    Stephens    - 
Benjamin  Woodall 
David  Kemble 
Ensign  Caleb  Page 
David  Page 

ditto 
ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 

ditto 
ditto 
ditto 

- 

d 

w 

'■3 

M 

to 

J3 

0 

X 

o. 
n 
U 

o 

« 
'c 

M 

E 
ti 
j)t 

'o. 
en 

s. 

u 

Serjeant    Jon.    Howard 
Phineas  Kemp 
John  Edmonds 
Thohias  Farmer     - 
Emanuel  Lapaiu  .. 

Capt  Spikeman     - 
Lieut.  Kennedy 
Robert  Avery 
Thomas  Brown  - 
Samuel  Fisk 
Serjeant  Moore  - 
John  Cahill         •      - 

ditto 

ditto 

ditto 
ditto 

Total,        , 

•4 

6 

6 

tak 

V.  B.     Those  returned 
en  prisoners  by  the  enenr 

as  Missing,  w 

e  aftei  wards  f( 
—  Note  by 

• 

>und,  had  been 
tht  Author. 

journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.  73 

took.  Upon  receiving  an  account  of  your  skirmish 
we  sent  an  express  to  Boston,  and,  by  the  said  op- 
portunity, recommended,  for  Spikeman's  company, 
your  brother,*  for  a  Lieutenant.  We  expect  the 
express  back  in  a  day  or  two,  by  whom,  I  dare  say, 
we  shall  have  my  Lord's  approbation  of  the  Rangers. 
Please  to  send  me  the  names  of  the  officers  you 
would  recommend  for  your  own  company,  and  also 
to  fill  up  the  vacancies  in  the  others  ;  as  I  am  cer- 
tain you  have  the  good  of  the  service  at  heart,  your 
recommendation  will  be  paid  great  regard  to.  I  yes- 
terday received  your's  of  the  30th  of  January.  You 
cannot  imagine  how  all  ranks  of  the  people  here  are 
pleased  with  your  conduct,  and  your  mens  behaviour; 
for  my  part,  it  is  no  more  than  I  expected  ;  I  was  so 
pleased  with  their  appearance  when  I  was  out  with 
them,  that  I  took  it  for  granted  they  would  behave 
well  whenever  they  met  the  enemy.  When  I  re- 
turned I  reported  them  as  such,  and  am  glad  they 
have  answered  my  expectation. 

*4  am  heartily  sorry  for  Spikeman  and  Kennedy, 
who  I  imagined  would  have  turned  out  well,  as  like- 
wise for  the  men  you  have  lost ;  but  it  is  impossible 
to  play  at  bowls  without  meeting  with  rubs.  We 
must  try  to  revenge  the  loss  of  them.  There  is  few 
people  that  will  believe  it  ;  but,  upon  honour,  I 
could  be  glad  to  have  been  with  you,  that  I  might 
have  learned  the  manner  of  fighting  in  this  country. 
The  chance  of  being  shot  is  all  stuff,  and  King  Wil- 
liam's opinion  and  principle  is  much  the  best  for  a 
soldier,  viz.  :  "  That  every  bullet  has  it's  billet,* 
and  that  it  is  "  alloted  how  every  man  shall  die ; "  so 
that  I  am  certain  that  every  one  will  agree,  that  it  is 
better  to  die  with  the  reputation   of  a   brave  man, 


Jamet  Rogers.     (Nott  in  tht  Original.) 


74  Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 


t  4 

\:  ■  m 


fighting  for  his  country  in  a  good  cause,  than  either 
shamefully  running  away  to  preserve  one's  life,  or 
lingering  out  an  old  age,  and  dying  in  one's  bed, 
without  having  done  his  country  or  his  King  any 
service. 

"The  histories  of  this  country,  particularly,  are 
full  of  the  unheard-of  cruelties  committed  by  the 
French,  and  the  Indians,  by  their  instigation,  which  I 
think  every  brave  man  ought  to  do  his  utmost  to 
humble  that  haughty  narion,  or  reduce  their  bounds 
of  conquest  in  this  country  to  a  narrow  limit.  As 
soon  as  General  Abercrombie  receives  my  Lord's 
instructions  in  regard  to  the  Rangers,  I  shall  send 
you  notice  of  it  ;  in  the  interim,  I  hope  you'll  get 
the  better  of  your  wound.  If  I  can  be  of  any  ser- 
vice to  you  or  your  men  as  long  as  they  continue  to 
behave  so  well,  you  may  command. 

Your  most  humble  servant, 

To  Capt.  James  Abercrombie, 

Robert  Rogers.  Aid  de  Camp." 

My  wound  growing  worse,  I  was  obliged  to  re- 
pair to  Albany  for  better  assistance,  and  there  re- 
ceived the  following  instructions  from  General 
Abercrombie,  viz. 

Instructions  for  Capt.  Robert  Rogers. 

"  His  Excellency  the  Earl  of  Loudoun  having 
given  authority  to  me  to  augment  the  company  of 
Rangers  under  your  command,  to  lOO  men  each, 
viz. 

One  Captain,  ^ 

Two  Lieutenants,    >      upon  an  English  pay  ; 

One  Ensign,  j 

Four  SerjeaAts  at  4s.  each.  New  York  currency ; 

100  private  men,  at  2s.  and  6d.  each  ditto  per 
day; 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,   j^ 


■  ■•>■ 


lither 

e,  or 

Isecl, 

r  any 


U  are 
ly  the 

hich  I 

ost  to 

>ouncli 

:.     As 

Lord's 

II  send 

I'll  get 

ny  ser- 

inue  to 


BIE, 

»» 


to  re- 

ere  re-   "^^-^ 
[cneral 


having 
)any  of 
each, 


Irrency  i 
litto  per 


'*  And  whereas  there  are  some  private  men  of  your 
company  serving  at  present  upon  higher  pay  than  the 
above  establishment,  you  are  at  liberty  to  discharge 
them,  in  case  they  refuse  to  serve  at  the  said  estab- 
lishment, as  soon  as  you  have  other  men  to  replace 
them.  If  your  men  agree  to  remain  with  you  and 
serve  upon  the  above  establishment,  you  may  assure 
them  they  will  be  taken  notice  of,  and  will  be  first 
provided  for  ;  each  man  to  be  allowed  ten  dollars 
bounty-money,  and  to  find  their  own  cloaths,  arms, 
and  blankets,  and  to  sign  a  paper  subjecting  them- 
selves to  the  rules  and  articles  of  war,  and  to  serve 
during  the  war.  You  are  to  enlist  no  vagrants,  but 
such  as  you  and  your  officers  are  acquainted  with, 
and  who  are  every  way  qualified  for  the  duty 
of  Rangers ;  and  you  and  your  officers  are  to 
use  your  best  endeavors  to  complete  your  com- 
panies as  soon  as  possible,  and  bring  them  to  Fort 
Edward. 

James  Abercrombie, 
Major  General." 

About  this  time  I  again  wrote  to  his  Lordship, 
earnestly  soliciting  his  friendly  interposition  and  as- 
sistance, to  obtain  from  the  government  here,  an 
order  for  payment  of  what  was  due  to  me  and  my 
men,  for  our  respective  services  during  the  winter 
1755;  but  if  that  could  not  be  obtained,  that  he 
would  be  pleased  to  direct  me  what  method  to  take 
for  recovery  thereof.  Whitherto  his  Lordship  replied, 
that  as  these  services  were  antecedeiit  to  his  com- 
mand here,  it  was  not  in  his  power  to  reward  them. 
General  Amherst,  afterwards,  on  a  like  application, 
gave  me  much  the  same  answer. 

These  applications  not    being  attended  with  any 

7 


1 


\ 


\  ■■ 


i/   ( 


76  Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 

success,  and  suits  of  law  being  afterwards  commenced 
against  me,  by,  and  on  the  behalf  of  those  who  served 
under  me  in  that  campaign,  and  verdicts  obtained  in 
their  favour,  I  was  not  only  obliged  to  answer  their 
several  demands,  to  the  amount  of  X.  828  :  3  :  3 
sterling,  which  I  paid  out  of  my  private  fortune,  but 
also  a  considerable  sum  for  law  charges,  exclusive 
of  what  I  ought  to  have  received  for  my  own  services 
during  that  severe  season.  But  for  all  which  I  have 
not  at  any  time  since  received  one  shilling  considera- 
tion. 

In  the  same  letter  I  likewise  informed  his  Lordship 
of  the  death  of  Capt.  Hobbs  of  the  Rangers  who 
died  a  few  days  before,  and  recommended  Lieutenant 
Bulkley  of  the  same  company,  as  a  proper  person  to 
succeed  him  in  that  command. 

March  5,  I  was  taken  ill  with  the  small-pox,  and 
not  able  to  leave  my  room  till  the  15th  of  April 
following,  during  which  time  my  officers  were  re- 
cruiting, agreeable  to  his  Lordship's  instructions. 
Not  long  after  I  received  the  following  letter  from 
Capt.  Abercrombie. 


Sir, 


New  Torky  Jpril  22,  1757. 


"As  there  is  another  ranging  company  sent  up 
to  Albany,  with  orders  to  proceed  to  the  forts,  you 
will  acquaint  Colonel  Gage,  that  it  is  my  Lord  Lou- 
doun's orders,  that  the  two  companies  at  Fort  Wil- 
liam Henry,  and  your  own  from  Fort  Edward,  come 
down  immediately  to  Albany,  to  be  ready  to  embark 
for  this  place.  Show  this  letter  to  Colonel  Gage, 
that  he  may  aqOaint  Colonel  Monro  of  his  Lordship's 
orders,  and  that  quarters  may  be  provided  for  your 
companions  in  the  houses  about  Albany.  You  will 
take  particular  care  that  the  companies  have  provided 


'f 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,   yj 


themselves  with  all  recessaries,  and  see  that  they  are 
complete  and  good  men.  Since  his  Lordship  has  put 
it  in  your  charge,  I  hope  you  will  be  very  diligent  in 
executing  the  trust,  for,  upon  a  review  of  the  men, 
if  any  are  found  insufficient  for  the  service,  the 
blame  will  be  laid  upon  you.  If  the  officers  of  this 
ranging  company  that  is  gone  up,  are  not  acquainted 
with  the  woods  about  Fort  William  Henry,  your 
brother  must  send  some  officers  and  men  of  his  com- 
pany along  with  them,  to  let  them  know  the  different 


scouts. 


To  Capt. 

Robert  Rogers^ 

at  Albany. 


I  am  Sir, 
Your  most  humble  servant, 

James  Abf.rcrombie, 
Aid  de  Camp." 


Capt.  Richard  Rogers,  with  his  own,  and  the  new 
company  of  Rangers  before  mentioned,  which  was 
raised  in  the  Jersies,  and  commanded  by  Capt.  Bur- 
gin,  being  left  at  Fort  William  Henry,  my  own  com- 
pany from  Fort  Edward,  and  Capt.  Stark's  and  Capt. 
Bulkley's  from  Fort  William  Henry,  agreeable  to 
the  above  instructions,  marched  down  to  Albany, 
and  from  thence  embarked  for  New  York,  where 
we  were  joined  by  another  new  raised  company  of 
Rangers,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Shephard 
from  New  Hampshire,  and  after  some  small  stay 
there,  re-embarked  on  board  a  transport,  and  left 
Sandy  Hook  on  the  20th  of  June,  v^ith  a  fleet  of 
near  an  hundred  sail,  bound  for  Halifax,  where  we 
soon  arrived,  and,  according  to  orders,  T  encamped 
on  the  Dartmouth  side  of  the  harbour,*  while  the 


*  Dartmouth  lies  on  the  east  side  of  Chibucto  Harbor,  opposite  the 
town  of  Halifax. 


!   .       4 


.■>*>,*•»>«-». 


:    i. 


:    \ 


yS  Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


army  lay  encamped  on  the  Halifax  side.     The  Ran- 
gers were  here  employed  in  various  services. 

On  July  3d,  by  orders,  I  commanded  a  party  to 
Lawrence  Town,  and  from  thence  to  Schitzcook ; 
som*;  were  left  there  to  cut  and  make  up  hay  in  the 
meadows,  for  the  horses  intended  to  be  used  in  an 
expedition  to  Louisburg;  others  covered  the  hay- 
makers, and  others  ^ere  dispatched  on  scouts,  to 
make  discoveries  ;  in  one  of  which  two  deserters 
from  the  45th  regiment  were  seized  and  brought  in. 
About  the  latter  end  of  this  month  forty  Rangers 
were  sent  across  the  Isthmus  of  Nova  Scotia,  to  the 
settlements  on  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  and  a  party  down 
to  the  north-west  arm,  to  scour  the  woods  for  deser- 
ters, &c.,  and  brought  in  several,  both  from  the  army 
and  navy. 

About  this  time  Admiral  Holbourn  arrived  with  a 
fleet  from  England,  with  several  regiments  of  regu- 
lar troops  on  board,  which  were  landed,  and  likewise 
encamped  at  Halifax,  upon  which  all  scouting  parties 
were  called  in ;  but  certain  intelligence  being  re- 
ceived that  a  French  fleet  of  superior  force  had  ac- 
tually arrived  at  Louisburg,  the  intended  expedition 
against  that  place  was  laid  aside,  and  thereupon  the 
Rangers  were  remanded  back  to  the  western  fron- 
tiers. 

Great  numbers  of  the  Rangers  having  been  car- 
ried off^  this  summer  by  the  small  pox,  I  sent  several 
of  my  oflicers,  by  his  Lordship's  command,  to  recruit 
in  New  Hampshire,  and  the  Massachuset's  provin- 
ces, with  orders  to  join  me  at  Albany.  I  afterwards 
embarked  with  the  Rangers  under  my  command,  on 
board  the  fleet  which  carried  the  regular  troops  to 
New  York,  and  from  thence  proceeded  in  small  ves- 
sels up  Hudson's  River  to  Albany,  where  I  was  soon 
after  joined  by  the  new-raised  recruits. 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.    79 


I  then  proceeded  to  Fort  Edward,  which  was  the 
only  remaining  cover  to  the  northern  frontiers  of 
New  York,  and  the  more  eastern  provinces.  Fort 
William  Henry  *  having  been  taken  by  the  French, 
under  the  command  of  Monsieur  Montcalm,  the 
August  before.f  General  Webb  was  then  command- 


*  My  brother  Captain  Richard  Rogers  died  with  the  imall-pox  a 
few  days  before  this  fort  was  besieged  ;  but  such  was  the  cruelty  and 
rage  of  the  enemy  after  their  conquest,  that  they  dug  him  up  out  of 
hit  grave,  and  scalped  him.  In  consequence  of  the  articles  of  capitu- 
lation at  the  surrender  of  this  fort,  the  two  companies  of  Rangers 
there  were  disbanded,  and  dismissed  the  service. 

— Note  by  the  Author. 

In  Stark's  edition  of  Rogers  Journal,  the  following  note  is  added  : 

"When  the  French  took  Fort  William  Henry,  they  were  rather 
more  favorable  with  Samuel  Blodget,  the  suttler  of  the  garrison,  whom 
they  found  concealed  undet  a  battoe,  than  they  were  with  the  remain* 
of  Capt.  Rogers.  They  suffered  him  to  go  about  his  business,  after 
plundering  him  of  everything  but  his  scalp.  He  was  never  partial  to 
the  military  service  afterwards;  but  became  a  considerable  Merchant, 
a  Judge,  and  was  the  first  projector  of  the  canal  at  Amotkeag  Falls,  on 
Merrimack  River.  He  lived  to  a  great  age,  and  died  at  the  Falls, 
universally  respected,  as  an  enterprising  and  public  spirited  citizen." 

Fouchot,  in  his  Memoirs  of  the  war  of  1756 — 60,  mentions  an  in- 
stance of  disinterment  of  the  dead  —  perhaps  the  same  as  that  of 
Richard  Rogers,  above  noticed  by  the  author,  and  relates  the  conse- 
quences as  follows : 

"The  Indians  at  they  set  out  to  return  to  their  country,  carried  with 
them  a  disease  of  which  many  died.  Some  of  them  seeing  new 
graves,  disinterred  the  dead  to  take  their  scalps,  but  unfortunately 
found  that  they  had  died  of  the  small-pox,  and  the  infection  was  thus 
given  to  the  Indians.  The  Pout6otame's  Nation,  one  of  the  bravest 
and  most  strongly  attached  to  the  French,  almost  entirely  perished  of 
this  epidemic.  We  especially  regretted  some  of  the  Chiefs,  whom  the 
French  highly  esteemed." 

— Hough'' s  Translation  of  Pouchot's  Memoirs,  ii,  91. 

f  In  Stark's  edition  of  Rogers'  Journals,  a  statement  is  here  intro' 
duced  as  text  not  found  in  the  original.     It  is  as  follows : 

''The  capture  of  William  Henry  was  more  than  once  attempted  by 
the  French.  Longee,  a  famous  French  Partisan,  endeavored  to  effect 
a  surprise  on  the  night  of  March  17,  1757,  while  the  Irish  portion  of 
the  garrison  were  engaged  in  a  drunken  carousal.     It  was,  however , 


!  ii 


8o  journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 


ing  oflicer  at  Fort  Edward,  and  by  his  orders  we 
were  continually  employed  in  patrolling  the  woods 
between  this  fort  and  Ticonderoga.  In  one  of  these 
parties,  my  Lord  How  dii"  us  the  honour  to  accom- 
pany us,  being  fond,  as  he  expressed  himself,  to  learn 
our  method  of  marching,  ambushing,  retreating,  5cc., 
and,  upon  our  return  expressed  his  good  opinion  of 
us  very  generously. 

About  this  time  Lord  Loudoun  sent  the  following 
volunteers  in  the  regular  troops,  to  be  trained  to  the 
anging,  or  wood-service,  under  my  command  and 
inspection ;  with  particular  orders  to  me  to  instruct 
them  to  the  utmost  of  my  power  in  the  ranging  dis- 
cipline, our  methods  of  marching,  retreating,  am- 
bushing, fighting,  &c.,  that  they  might  be  the  better 
qualified  for  any  future  services  against  the  enemy 
we  had  to  contend  with,  desiring  me  to  take  particu- 
lar notice  of  each  one's  behaviour,  and  recommend 
them  according  to  their  several  deserts,  viz. : 
Walter  Crofton 


Mr.  Lyshat 
Mr.  Roberts 
Charles  Humbles 
Richard  Edlington 
Andrew  Crawley 
Thomas  Millet 


} 

] 


of  the  4th  regiment 
of  foot. 


of    the    22d    ditto. 


defealed  by  the  vigilcnce  of  the  Rangers,  who  repulsed  the  French, 
while  the  other  troops  were  coming  to  their  senses." 

Reminiscettses  of  the  French   War^  p.  43. 

He  also  gives  as  "text,"  an  account  of  the  siege  and  capture  of  Fort 
William  Henry,  with  reflections  upon  that  event,  which,  perhaps 
•hould  have  occurred,  or  did  occur  to  Major  Rogers,  but  were  ommit- 
ted  in  his  own  edition«of  the  Journals. 

A  more  detailed  account  of  the  St.  Patrick's  aflfair,  is  given  by  Mr. 
Caleb  Stark,  in  his  Memoirt  and  Official  Correspondence  of  Gen.  John 
Stark,     p.  ao. 


5^1 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,   8 1 


John  Wilcox 
John  Wrightson 
Mich.^el  Kent 
Mr.  Monsel 
Francis  Creed 
Alexander  Robertson 
William  Frazier 
John  Graham 
Andrew  Ross 
William  Frazier,  Jun. 
Archibald  Campbell 
Arch.  Campbell,  Jun. 
Augus.  Campbell 
Charles  Menzies 
John  Robertson 
Will.  Ervin,  or  Irwin 
Thomas  Drought 
William  Drought 
Francis  Carruthers 
John  Clarke 
Walter  Paterson 
Mr.  Nicholson 
Richard  Boyce 
Charles  Perry 
Mr.  Christopher 
Mr.  Still 
Mr.  Hamilton 
Mr.  Young 
Allen  Grant 
Jonathan  McDougal 
Mr.  Frisborough 
i  Nicholas  Ward 
James  Hill 


of  the    27th    ditto. 


y     of    the    42d    ditto. 


of    the   44th   ditto. 


I      of    the   48th    ditto. 


of    the   55th    ditto. 

of  the  second  bat- 
talion of  Royal 
Americans. 

of     the    3d     ditto. 


»     of    the    4th    ditto. 


82  'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Roger Sm 


John  Schloser 
Geor  ge  Wardoman 
Francis  Barnard 
Engeibertus  Horst 
Ericke  Reinhault 
Andrew  Wackerberg 
Luhainfans  Dekesar 
Donald  M'Bean 
Henry  Ven  Bebber 
John  Boujour 
Edward  Grafton 
James  Pottinger 
Simon  Stephens 
Archibald  McDonald 
Hugh  Sterling 
Mr.  Bridge 


>      Rangers. 


I 
J 


These  volunteers  I  formed  into  a  company  by 
themselves,  and  took  the  more  immediate  command 
and  management  of  them  to  myself;  and  for  their 
benefit  and  instruction  reduced  into  writing  the  fol- 
lowing rules  or  plan  of  discipline,  which,  on  various 
occasions,  I  had  found  by  experience  to  be  necessary 
and  advantageous,  vi%. : 

I.   Ail  Rangers  are  to  be  subject  to  the  rules  and  articles  of  war;  to 
appear  at  roll-call  every  evening  on  their  own  parade,  equipped,  each 
with  a  fire-lock,  sixty  rounds  of  powder  and  ball,  and  a  hatchet,  at  1 
which  time  an  officer  from  each  company  is  to  inspect  the  same,  to 
see  they  are  in  order,  so  as  to  be  ready  on  any  emergency  to  march  at  1 
a    minute's    warning ;  and    before   they   are   dismissed    the   necessar;  j 
guards  are  to  be  draughted,  and  scouts  fortht  ...xt  day  appointed. 

II  Whenever  you  are  ordered  out  to  the  enemies  forts  or  frontier)  I 
tor  discoveries,  if  your  number  be  small,  march  in  a  single  file,  keep- 1 
ing  at  such  a  distance  from  each  other  u  to  prevent  one  shot  fiooj 
killing  two  men,  sending  one  man,  or  more,  forward,  and  the  like  oil 
each  side,  at  the  distance  of  twenty  yards  from  the  main  body,  if  tbtj 
ground  you  march  over  will  admit  of  it,  to  give  the  signal  to  the  ( 
cer  of  the  approach  of  an  enemy,  and  of  their  number,  &c. 

III.  If  you  march  over  marshes  or  soft  ground,  change  your  p 
tion,  and   march  abreast   of  each  other,  to  prevent  the  enemy  frosl 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.    83 


tracking  you,  (as  they  would  do  if"  you  matched  in  a  single  file)  till 
you  get  over  such,  ground,  and  then  resume  your  former  order,  and 
march  till  it  i:  quite  dark  before  you  encamp,  which  do,  if  possible,  on 
a  piece  of  ground  that  may  afford  your  centries  the  advantage  of  seeing 
or  hearing  the  enemy  at  some  considerable  distance,  keeping  one  half 
of  your  whole  party  awake  alternately  through  the  ni(;ht. 

IV.  Some  time  before  you  come  to  the  place  you  would  reconnoi- 
tre, make  a  stand,  and  send  one  or  two  men,  in  whom  you  can  con- 
fide, to  look  out  the  best  ground  for  making  your  observations. 

V.  If  you  have  the  good  fortune  to  take  any  prisoners,  keep  them 
separate,  till  they  are  examined,  and  in  your  return  take  a  different 
rout  from  that  in  which  you  went  out,  that  you  may  the  better  dis- 
cover any  party  in  yur  rear,  and  have  an  opportunity,  if  their  strength 
be  superior  to  yours,  to  alter  your  course,  or  disperse,  as  circumstances 
may  require. 

VI.  If  you  march  in  a  large  body  of  three  or  four  hundred,  with  a 
design  to  attack  the  enemy,  divide  your  party  into  three  columns, 
each  headed  by  a  proper  officer,  and  let  these  columns  march  in  single 
files,  the  columns  to  the  right  and  left  keeping  at  twenty  yards  dis- 
tance or  more  from  that  of  the  center,  if  the  ground  will  adr.it,  and 
let  proper  guards  be  kept  in  the  front  and  rear,  and  suitable  flanking 
parties  at  a  due  distance  as  be  ■',  r  lirected,  with  orders  to  h?'t  on  all 
eminences,  to  take  a  view  of  the  surrounding  ground,  to  prevent  your 
being  ambuscaded,  am  ;  >  notify  the  approach  or  retreat  of  the  enemy, 
that  proper  dispositions  may  be  made  for  attacking,  defending,  Sec. 
And  if  the  enemy  approach  in  your  front  on  level  grouud,  form  a 
front  of  your  three  columns  or  main  body  with  the  advanced  guard, 
keeping  out  your  flanking  parties,  as  if  you  were  marching  under  the 
command  of  trusty  officers,  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  pressing  hard 
on  either  of  your  wings,  or  surrounding  you,  which  is  the  usual 
method  of  the  savages,  if  their  number  will  admit  of  it,  and  be  care- 
ful likewise  to  support  and  strengthen  your  rear  guard. 

VII.  If  you  are  obliged  to  receive  the  enemy's  fire,  fall,  or  squat 
down,  till  it  is  over,  then  rise  and  discharge  at  them.  If  their  main 
body  is  equal  to  yours,  extend  yourselves  occasionally ;  but  if  superior, 
be  careful  to  support  and  strengthen  your  flanking  parties,  to  make 
them  equal  with  theirs,  that  if  possible  you  may  repulse  them  to  their 

i  main  body,  in  which  case  push  upon  them  with  the  greatest  resolution, 

[with  equal  force  in  each  flank  and  in  the  centre,  observing  to  keep  at 

j«  due  distance  from  each  other,  and  advance  from  tree  to  tree,  with 

lone  half  of  the  party  before  the  other  ten  or   twelve  yards.     If  the 

Icnemy  push  upon  you,  let  your  front  fire  and  fall  down,  and  then  let 

four  rear  advance  thro*   them  and  do    the  like,    by    which  time  those 

rho  before  were  in  front  will  be   ready   to  discharge  again,  and  repeat 

ae  same    alternately,    as   occasion  shall  require ;  by  this  means  you 

rill  keep  up  such  a  constant  fire,   that  the  enemy  will  not  be  able 

isily  to  break  your  order,  or  gain  your  ground. 


?^  ! 


84  Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


VIII.  If  you  oblige  the  enemy  to  retreat,  be  careful,  in  your  pur- 
suit of  them,  to  keep  out  your  flanking  parties,  and  prevent  them 
from  gaining  eminences,  or  rising  grounds,  in  which  case  they  would 
perhaps  be  able  to  rally  and  repulse  you  in  their  turn. 

IX.  If  you  are  obliged  to  retreat,  let  the  front  of  your  whole  party 
firs  and  fall  back,  till  the  rear  hath  done  the  same,  making  for  the 
best  ground  you  can;  by  this  means  you  will  oblige  the  enemy  to  pur- 
sue you,  if  they  do  it  at  all,  in  the  face  of  a  constant  fire. 

X.  If  the  enemy  is  so  superior  that  you  are  in  danger  of  being  sur- 
rounded by  them,  let  the  whole  body  disperse,  and  every  one  take  a 
diflTerent  road  to  the  place  of  rendezvous  appointed  for  that  evening, 
which  must  every  morning  be  altered  and  fixed  for  the  evening  en- 
suing, in  order  to  bring  the  whole  party,  or  as  many  of  them  as  possi- 
ble together,  after  any  separation  that  may  happen  in  the  day;  but  if 
you  should  happen  to  be  actually  surrounded,  form  yourselves  into  a 
square,  or,  if  in  the  woods,  a  circle  is  best,  and,  if  possible,  make  a 
stand  till  the  darkness  of  night  favours  your  escape. 

XI.  If  your  rear  is  attacked,  the  main  body  and  flankers  must  face 
about  to  the  right  or  left,  as  occasion  shall  require,  and  form  them- 
selves to  oppose  the  enemy,  as  before  directed  ;  and  the  same  method 
must  be  observed,  if  attacked  in  either  of  your  flanks,  by  which  means 
you  will  always  make  a  rear  of  one  of  yuur  flank  guards. 

XII.  If  you  determine  to  rally  after  a  retreat,  in  order  to  malce 
a  fresh  stand  against  the  enemy,  by  all  means  endeavor  to  do  it  on  the 
most  rising  ground  you  can  come  at,  which  will  give  you  greatly  the 
advantage  in  point  of  situation,  and  enable  you  to  repulse  superior 
numbers. 

XIII.  In  general,  when  pushed  upon  by  the  enemy,  reserve  your  fire 
till  they  approach  very  near,  which  will  then  put  them  into  the  greater 
surprise  and  consternation,  and  give  you  an  opportunity  of  rushing 
upon  tiiem  with  your  hatchets  and  cutlasses  to  the  better  advantage. 

'  XIV.  When  you  encamp  at  night,  fix  your  centries  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  not  to  be  relieved  from  the  main  ody  till  morning,  profound 
secrecy  and  silence  being  often  of  the  last  importance  in  these  cases. 
Each  centry,  therefore,  should  consist  of  six  men,  two  of  whom  must 
be  constantly  alert,  and  when  relieved  by  their  fellows,  it  should  be 
done  without  noise;  and  in  case  those  on  duty  see  or  hear  any  thing 
which  alarms  them,  they  are  not  to  speak,  but  one  of  them  is  silently 
to  retreat,  and  acquaint  the  commanding  officer  thereof,  that  proper 
dispositions  may  be  made ;  and  all  occasional  centries  should  be  fixed 
in  like  manner. 

XV.  At  the  first  dawn  of  day,  awake  your  whole  detachment;  that  I 
being  the  time  when  the  savages  chuse  to  fall  upon  their  enemies,  you 
should  by  all  means  be  in  readiness  to  receive  them. 

XVI.  If  the  enemy  should  be  discovered  by  your  detachments  in  tht 
morning,  and  their  numbers  are  superior  to  yours,  and  victory  doubtful, 
you  should  not  attack  them  till  the  evening,  as  then  they  will  not| 


\ii 


journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.    85 


know  your  numbers,  and  if  you  are  repulsed,  your  retreat  will  be  fa- 
voured by  the  darkness  of  the  night. 

XVII.  Before  you  leave  your  encampment,  send  out  small  parties 
to  scout  round  it,  to  see  if  there  be  any  appearance  or  track  of  an 
enemy  that  might  have  been  near  you  during  the  night. 

XVIII.  When  you  stop  for  refreshment,chuse  some  spring  or  rivulet 
if  you  can,  and  dispose  your  party  ao  as  not  tu  be  surprised,  posting 
proper  guards  anJ  centries  at  a  due  distance,  and  let  a  small  party  way- 
lay the  path  you  came  in,  lest  the  enemy  should  be  pursuing. 

XIX.  If,  in  your  return,  you  have  to  cross  rivers,  avoid  the  usual 
fords  as  much  as  possible,  lest  the  enemy  should  have  discovered,  and 
be  there  expecting  you. 

XX.  If  you  have  to  pass  by  lakes,  keep  at  some  distance  from  the 
edge  of  the  water,  lest,  in  case  of  an  ambuscade  or  an  attack  from 
the  enemy,  when  in  that  situation,  your  retreat  should  be  cut  off. 

XXI.  If  the  enemy  pursue  your  rear,  take  a  circle  till  you  come  to 
your  own  tracks,  and  there  form  an  ambush  to  receive  them,  and  give 
them  the  first  fire. 

XXII.  When  you  return  from  a  scout,  and  come  near  our  forts, 
avoid  the  usual  roads,  and  avenues  thereto,  lest  the  enemy  should  have 
headed  you,  and  lay  in  ambush  to  receive  you,  when  almost  exhausted 
with  fatigues. 

XXIII.  When  you  pursue  any  party  that  has  been  near  our  forts 
or  encampments,  follow  not  directly  in  their  tracks,  lest  you  should  be 
discovered  by  their  rear-guards,  who,  at  such  a  time,  would  be  most 
alert;  but  endeavor,  by  a  different  route  to  head  and  meet  them  in 
some  narrow  pass,  or  lay  in  ambush  to  receive  them  when  and  where 
they  least  expect  it. 

XXIV.  If  you  are  to  embark  in  canoes,  battoes,  or  otherwise,  by 
water,  chuse  the  evening  for  the  time  of  your  embarkation,  as  you  will 
then  have  the  whole  night  before  you,  to  pass  undiscovered  by  any 
parties  of  the  enemy,  on  hills  or  other  places,  which  command  a  pros- 
pect of  the  lake  or  river  you  arc  upon. 

XXV.  In  padling  or  rowing,  give  orders  that  the  boat  or  canoe 
next  the  sternmost,  wait  for  her,  and  the  third  for  the  second,  and 
the  fourth  for  the  third,  and  so  on,  to  prevent  separation,  and  that 
you  may  be  ready  to  assist  each  other  on  any  emergency. 

XXVI.  Appoint  one  man  in  each  boat  to  look  out  for  fires,  on  tht 
ladjacent  shores,  from  the  numbers  and  size  of  which  you  may  form 
home  judgment  of  the  number  that  kindled  them,  and  whether  you 
I  are  able  to  attack  them  or  not. 

XXII.  If  you  find  the  enemy  encamped  near  the  banks  of  a  river, 
[or  lake,  which  you  imagine  they  will  attempt  to  cross  for  their  se- 
curity upon  being  attacked,  leave  a  detachment  of  your  party  on  the 
Opposite  shore  to  receive  them,  while,  with  the  remainder,  you  cur- 
^rise  them,  having  them  between  you  and  the  lake  or  river. 

XXVIII.  If  you  cannot  satisfy  yourself  as  to  the  enemy's  number 


I'  i! 


86  Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


\A 


and  strength,  from  their  fire,  &c.,  conceal  your  boats  at  some  distancei 
and  ascertain  their  number  by  a  reconnoitering  party,  when  they  em- 
bark, or  march,  in  the  morning,  marking  the  course  they  steer,  &c., 
wl)en  you  may  pursue,  ambush,  and  attack  them,  or  let  them  pass,  ai 
prudence  shall  direct  you.  In  general,  however,  that  you  may  not  be 
discovered  by  the  enemy  on  the  lakes  and  rivers  at  a  great  distance,  it 
is  safest  to  lay  by,  with  your  boats  and  party  concealed  all  day,  with- 
out noise  or  shew,  and  to  pursue  your  intended  route  by  night ;  and 
whether  you  go  by  land  or  water,  give  out  parole  and  countersigns,  in 
order  to  know  one  another  in  the  dark,  and  likewise  appoint  a  station 
for  every  man  to  repair  to,  in  case  of  any  accident  that  may  separate 
you. 

Such  in  general  are  the  rules  to  be  observed  in  the 
Ranging  service  ;  there  are,  however,  a  thousand  oc- 
currences and  circumstances  which  may  happen,  that 
will  make  it  necessary,  in  some  measure,  to  depart 
from  them,  and  to  put  other  arts  and  stratagems  in 
practice  \  in  which  cases  every  man's  reason  and 
judgment  must  be  his  guide,  according  to  the  particu- 
lar situation  and  nature  of  things ;  and  that  he  may 
do  this  to  advantage,  he  should  keep  in  mind  a  max- 
im never  to  be  departed  from  by  a  commander,  viz,: 
to  preserve  a  firmness  and  presence  of  mind  on  every 
occasion. 

My  Lord  Ldudoun  about  this  time  made  a  visit  toj 
Fort  Edward,  and  after  giving  directions  for  quarter- 
ing the  army  the  approaching  winter,  left  a  strong] 
garrison  there  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Havi- 
land,  and  returned  to  Albany.  The,  Rangers,*  with! 
the  before  mentioned  volunteers,  were  encamped  and! 
quartered  in  huts  on  an  adjacent  island  in  Hudson's! 
River,  and  were  sent  out  on  various  scouts,  in  whicfaf 
my  ill  state  of  health  at  this  time  would  not  permilj 


*  Several  of  them  were  dismissed  with  an  allowance  of  thirteen  dijil 
pay  to  carry  them  home,  being  rendered  unfit  for  immediate  service  li|l 
their  past  fatigues,  and  several  officers  were  sent  recruiting  in  order  nl 
have  the  companies  complete  by  the  opening  of  the  Spring. 

Note  by  the  Author. 


Aiik. 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.       87 


iStancci 
,ey  cm- 
er,  &c., 
pass,  ai 

r  not  be 
tance,  it 
tf,  with- 
;ht}  an* 
rsigni,  in 
a  station 
f  separate 

1  in  the 
and  oc- 
en,  that 
0  depart 
igems  in 
,son  and 
particu- 
t  he  may 
d  a  tnax- 
er,  vit, : 
on  every 


fcrs,"^  with 
mped  and 
Hudson's! 
in  whicb] 
not  permitl 


•  thirteen  diji 
liate  service  W 
Tjg  in  order  o| 

ftbt  Author. 


me  to  accompany  them,  till  December  17,  1757,  when, 
pursuant  to  orders  from  Lieutenant  Colonel  Haviland, 
commanding  officer  at  Fort  Edward,  I  marched  from 
thence  with  a  party  of  150  men  to  reconnoitre  Carillon, 
[alias  Ticonderoga,  and  if  possible  to  take  a  prisoner.  We 
marched  six  miles  and  encamped,  the  snow  being  then 
ibout  three  inches  deep,  and  before  morning  it  was  fifteen; 
e  however  pursued  our  route. 

On  the    i8th   in  the   morning,  eight  of  my  party  being 

;ired,  returned  to  the  fort  ;  with  the  remainder,  I  marched 

ine  miles  further,  and  encamped  on  the  east  side  of  Lake 

eorge,   neat    the  place  where   Mons.    Montcalm   landed 

is  troops  when  he  besieged  and  took  Fort  William  Henry, 

here   I  found   some   cannon   ball   and  shells,  which   had 

en  hid   by  the   French,   and   made   a  mark   by  which    I 

ight  find  them  again. 

The  19th  we  continued  our  march  on  the  west  side  of 
e  lake  nine  miles  further,  near  the  head  of  the  north- 
'est  bay. 

The  2ist,  so  many  of  my  party  tired  and  returned  as 

iduced  our  nunii)er  to  123,  officers  included,  with  whom 

proceeded   ten   miles   further,   and    encamped   at   night, 

dering  each  man  to  leave  a  day's  provisions  there  till  our 

iturn. 

The  next  day  we    marched  ten   miles  further,  and  en- 

mped  near  the  great  brook  that  runs  into  Lake  George,' 

ht  miles  from  the  French  advanced  guard. 

The  23d  we  marched  eight  miles,  and  the  24th  six  more, 

id  then  halted  within  600  yards  of  Carillon  fort.     Near  the 

Jills  we  discovered  five  Indian's  tracks,  that  had  marched 

t  way  the   day   before,   as  we  supposed,   on   a   hunting 

ty.    On  my  march  this  day  between  the  advanced  guard 

the  fort,  1   appointed   three   places  of  rendezvous  to 

lair  to,  in  case  of  being  broke  in  an  action,  and  acquainted 

|ry  officer  and  soldier  that  I  should  rally  the  party  at  the 

8 


J 


88        'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


m  ,^.a. 


nearest  post  to  the  fort,  and  if  broke  there  to  retreat  to 
second,  and  at  the  third  to  make  a  stand  till  the  darknessoi 
the  night  would  give  us  an  opportunity  to  get  off.     Sooi 
after  I  halted,  I  formed  an  ambush  on  a  road  leading  froi 
the  fort  to  the  woods,  with  an   advanced    party  of  twenti 
men  and  a  rear-guard  of  fifteen.      About  eleven  o'clock 
sergeant  of  marines  came  from  the  fort  up  the  road  to  m 
advanced  party,  who  let  him  pass  to  the  main  bodv,  whe. 
I   made  him   prisoner.     Upon   examination,   he  reporte 
*'  that  there  were  in  the  garrison  350  regulars,  aboui  ti;ii 
*'  workmen,  and  but  five  Indians;  that  they  had  plenty: 
"  provisions,  &c.,  and  that  twelve  masons  were  constant 
"  employed    in    blowing    up   rocks    in    the   entrenchme 
"  and  a  number  of  soldiers  to  assist  them  ;  that  at  Cro 
*'  Point    there   were    150  soldiers    and    fourteen   Indiar. 
"  that   Mons.    Montcalm    was    at     Montreal  ;   that   5 
*'  Ottawawas   Indians  wintered    in   Canada,   and  that  5 
**  Rangers  were  lately  raised  in  Canada,  each  man  hav 
'*  a  doable-barrelled  fuz^-e,   and   put   under  an   experienc; 
"  officer,  well  acquainted  with  the  country  ;  that  he  didci 
"  know   whether   the  French    intended    to  attack  any 
"  the  English  forts   this  winter  or    not;   but  that  theyei 
"  pected  a  great  number  of  Indians  as  soon  as  the  ice  woaj 
"  bear  them,  in  order  to  go  down  to  the  English  forts ;  2 
•*  that  all  the  bakers  in  Carillon  were  employed  in  bak: 
"  biscuit  for  the  scouts  above-mentioned." 

About  noon,  a  frenchman,  who  had  been  hunt 
came  near  my  party  in  his  return,  when  I  ordered  a  pil 
to  pursue  him  to  the  edge  of  the  cleared  ground,  and  lai 
him  prisoner,  with  this  caution,  to  shoot  off  a  gun  or  t 
and  then  retreat  to  the  main  body,  in  order  to  intice 
enemy  from  their  fort  ;  which  orders  were  punctu 
obeyed,  but  not* one  of  them  ventured  out. 

The  last  prisoner,  on  examination,  gave  much  the  sa; 
account  as  the  other,  but  with  this  addition,  '^  that  he 


thi^l  heard  tl 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.       89 

i  heard  the  English    intended   to   attack   Ticonderop;a,  as 
[soon  as  the  lake  was  froze  so  as  to  bear  them." 

When  I  found  the  French  would  not  come  out  of  the 
Irt,  we  went  about  killing  their  cattle,  and  destroyed  seven- 
;n  head,  and  set  fire  to  the  wood,  which  they  had  collected 
the  use  of  the  garrison,  and  consumed  five  large  piles  ; 
le  French  shot  off  some  cannon  at  the  fires,  but  did  us 
harm.*  At  eight  o'clock  at  night  I  began  my  march 
newards,  and  arrived  at  Fort  Edward  with  my  prisoners 
27th.  In  my  return,  I  found  at  the  north  end  of  Lake 
eorge,  where  the  French  had  hid  the  boats  they  had  taken 
''ort  William  Henry,  with  a  great  number  of  cannon- 
lls ;  but  as  the  boats  were  under  water  we  could  not 
Btroy  them.  Upon  my  return  to  Fort  Edward,  I  re- 
ived a  letter  from  Captain  Abercrombie,  informing  me 
the  Earl  of  Loudoun,  who  was  then  at  New  York, 
tl  oughts  of  augmenting  the  Rangers,  and  had  desired 
heral  Abercrombie  to  command  me  down  to  receive  his 
jctions.  I  accordingly  prepared  for  my  journey,  and 
)n  my  arrival  was  received  by  his  lordship  in  a  very 
[rdly  manner  ;  and,  after  much  conversation  upon  the 


See  Pouchot's   Memoirs,  i,  99,  which    closely  agrees  as   to  the    number  of 

the  attacking  party  and  the  extent  of  damage  done. 

a  document  entitled    '■^Journal  of   Occurrences    in  Canada,    1757-1758," 

ed  with  the  Pans  Documents,  under  date  of  January  2,  1758,  we  find  the 

ing  entry  :  "  A  courier  from  Carillon   reports,  that  the  English   shewed 

ktlves  there  on  Christmas  eve,  to  the  number  of  150,  with  the  design  or 

|g  tile  to  the  houses  under  tiie  curtain  of  the  fort ;  that  the  cannon   pre- 

|ld  tliem  from  doing  so  ;   that  they  killed  some  fifteen  beeves  to  the  horns 

ot  which  the  commander  had  affixed  a  letter  couched  in  these  words: 

am  ubliged  to   you  sir,  for   the  repose  you  have  allowed    mc  to  take.     I 

\ou  tur  the  fresh    meat  you   have   sent    me.      1  will    take   care    of  my 

lers      I  request  you  to  present  my  compliments  to  the  Marquis  de  Mont- 

(Signed)  Rogbrs, 

Commander  of  the  Independent  Companies.'" 
—  N,   T.  Colonial  History , 


[ 

;      i' 
I      j 

;     j 


] .  i 


^1  i"' 


:  I 


90       journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


subject,  he  was  pleased  to  inform  me  of  his  intentions  oi 
levying  five  additional  companies  of  Rangers,  desiring  me  to 
name  the  persons  whom  I  thought  fit  for  officers,  and  such 
as  might  be  depended  upon,  to  levy  the  men  his  lordship 
desired  j  which  I  accordingly  diu,  and  then  received  tiora 
him  the  following  instructions. 

"  By    his    Excellency   John    Earl    of    Loudoun,    Lord! 
Machline  and   Tairenseen  &c.,  &c.,  &c.,  one  of  the 
sixteen    peers    of    Scotland,    Governor    and    Captair,] 
General  of  Virginia,  and  Vice   Admiral  of  the  samel 
Colonel  of  the  13th  Regiment  of  foot.  Colonel  in  chie: 
of  the  Royal  American  regiment,  Major  General  acii 
Commander  in  Chief  of  all  his  Majesty's  forces,  raised 
or  to  be  raised  in  North  America  : 
"  Whereas  J  have  this  day  thought  proper  to  auiiiiu-ii!! 
the  Rangers  with  five   additional  companies,  that  is,  fouj 
New   England   and    one  Indian  company,  to  be  fortHvviii;! 
raised  and  employed  in  his  Majesty's  service  ;  and  wheieail 
I  have  an  entire  confidence  in  your  skill  and  knowledge, .[ 
the  men  most  fit  for  that  service  -,    I  do  therefore,  by  iheJ 
presents,  appoint  you  to  raise  such  a  number  of  non-coral 
mission  officers   and   private   men   as  will   be  necessary  :| 
compleat  the  said  five  companies,  upon  the  following  esta^ 
lishment,  viz,     ^ach  company  to  consist  of  one  Captain,  til 
Lieutenants,  one  Ensign,  four  Serjeants,  and  100  private! 
The   officers   to  have    British   pay,  that   is,  the   same  d 
an  officer  of  the  like  rank  in  his  Majesty's  regular  forcejj 
the  Serjeants  4^.      New   York   currency   per  day,  and  trj 
private   men   2s.  6d.    currency   per  day.      And   the  betrf 
to    enable    you   to    make    this    levy    of    men,    you   shij 
have  one  month's  pay  for  each  of  the  said  five  compani 
advanced  to  you  ;  upon  these  conditions,  that,  out  of  ti 
first  warrants  that  shall  hereafter  be  granted  for  the  sui 
sistence  of  these  companies,  shall   be   deducted  the  saj 
month's  pay  now  advanced.     Your  men  to  find  their  ow 


i*ikyl 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,       91 

»rms,  which  must  be  such  as  upon  examination,  shall  be 
JFoiind  fit,  and  be  approved  of.     They  are  likewise  to  pro- 
vide themselves  with  ^ood  warm  cloathing,  which  must  be 
iniform  in  every   company,  and  likewise  with  good  warm 
lankets.     And  the  company  of  Indians  to  be  dressed  in  all 
lespects  in  the  true  Indian  fashion,  and  they  are  all  to  be 
ibject  to  the  rules  ar d  articles  of  war.     You  will  forth- 
i^ith  acquaint  the  officers  appointed  to  these   companies, 
lat   they  are  immediately    to  set    out  on   the    recruiting 
srvice,  and  you  will  not  fail  to  instruct  them  that  they  are 
)t  to  inlist  any  man  for  a  less  term  than  one  year,  nor  any 
It  what  are  able-bodied,  well  acquainted  with  the  woods, 
bed  to  hunting,  and  every  way  qualified  for  the  Rangeing 
Irvice.     You  ate  also  to  observe  that  the  number  of  men 
Iquisite  to  compleat  the  said  five  companies,  are  all  to  be 
Kort  Edward  on  or  before   the  15th  day  of  March  next 
kuing,  and  those  that  shall  come  by  the  way  of  Albany 
to  be   mustered   there  by   the   officer  commanding,  as 
ill  those  who  go   strait   to  Fort   Edward   by  the   officer 
Immanding  there.     Given  under  my  hand,  at  New  York, 
nth  day  of  January,  1758. 

Loudoun, 
his  Excellency's  command, 

To  Capt.  J.  Appy." 

lobert  Rogers. 

\t\  pursuance  of  the  above  instructions,  I  immediately 
officers  into  the  New  England  provinces,  where,  by 
assistance  of  mv  friends,  the  requested  augmentation  of 
igeiswas  quickly  compleated,  the  whole  five  companies 
ig  rcadv  for  service  by  the  4th  day  of  March. 
H)ui  of  these  companies  were  sent  to  Louisburg  to  join 
ieral  Amherst,  and  one  joined  the  corps  under  my 
imand  ;  and  tho'  I  was  at  the  whole  expence  of  raising 

[five  companies,  I  never  got  the  least  allowance  for  it, 


R  I 


I 


i  V. 


92        'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers 


and  one  of  the  captains  dying,  to  whom  I  had  delivered  a  i 
thousand   dollars  as  advance  pay  for  his  company,  which, 
agreeable  to  the  instructions  I  received,  1  had  a  right  to 
do  ;  yet  was  I  obliged  to  account  with  the  government  for 
this  money,  and  entirely  lost  every  penny  of  it,^'" 

It  has  already  been  mentioned,  that  the  garrison  at  Fonl 
Edward  was  this  winter  under  the  command  of  Lieut.  Co;,| 
Haviland.f  This  gentleman,  about  the  aSth  of  February, 
ordered  out  a  scout  under  the  direction  of  one  P.itnani,| 
captain  of  a  company  of  one  of  the  Connecticut  provincial 
regiments,  with  some  of  my  men,  giving  out  publicly  at  m 
same  time,  that,  upon  Putnam's  return,  I  should  be  senttol 
the  French  forts  with  a  strong  party  of  400  Rangers.  Thi'l 
was  known  not  only  to  all  the  officers,  but  soldiers  also,  a;| 
Fort  Edward  before  Putnam's  departure. 

While  this  party  was  out,  a  servant  of  Mr.  Best,  a  sutltj 
to  the  Rangers,  was  captivated  by  a  flying  party  of  the  enem;! 
from  Ticonderoga  ;  unfortunately  too,  one  of  Putnamil 
men    had   left    him  at   Lake  George,  and   deserted   to 


§ 


I 


II 


*  In  Rev,  Caleb  Stark's  edition  of  Roger's  journals,  the   following  note^ 
given  at  this  place  : 

•*  Speaking  of  his   financial   concerns,  puts  us  in    mind  of  the    followid 
anecdote  of  Rogers.     While  in  garrison  at  Fort  Edward,  in  the  winter  of  r;!j 
two  British  officers  half  seas  over,  or  sufficiently  so  to  be  very   affectionate  a:j 
patriotic,  were   one   evening   lamenting   the   misfortunes  of  their   countrj, 
casioned  by  her  enormous  debt.      Rogers    coming  in  and   learning  the  cau.-d 
their    trouble,  told    them    to   give    themselves   no   more   uneasiness  about  I 
matter,  as  he   would  pay  half  the  debt  and  a  friend  of  his  the   remaincler,  iJJ 
thus  clear   the    nation    at    once   of  her   difficulties.     The   officers  trcatL'd 
captain  and  pronouncerf  him  the  nation's  benefactor.      Hence  the  saying— ''j 
pay  one's  debts  as  Rogers  did  that  of  the  nation,  '  "  --- Stain's  History  r,f  l)A 
barton,  N.  H.,  p. '1 80, 

f  William  Haviland  was  appointed  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  27th  rci'imeiJ 
Dec.  16,  1752,  and  arrived  with  his  regiment  at  Halifax,  July  i,  i757- 
was  with  the  army  on  the   northern  frontier   in  February,  1758-60,   becaiwj 
brigadier  general  in  1762.     General  in  the  army  in  February,  1783,  and  Js 
n  September,  1788. 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.       93 

Inetny.    Upon  Captain  Putnam's  return,  we  were  informed 

had  ventured  within  eight  miles  of  the  French  fort  at 

'iconderoga,  and   that  a   party  he   had  sent  to  make  dis- 

)veries  had  reported   to   him,  that  there  were  near  600 

idians  not  far  from  the  enemy's  quarters. 

March  10,  1758.     Soon  after  the  said  Captain  Putnam's 

hum,  in  consequence  of  positive  orders  from  Col.    Havi- 

id,  I  this  day  began  a  march  from  Fort  Edward  for  the 

kighbourhood  of  Carillon,  not  with  a  party  of  400  men, 

iat  first  given  out,  but  of  180  men  only,  officers  included, 

k  Captain,  one   Lieutenant,  and  one    Ensign,  and   three 

[luiueers,  viz  :   Mess.  Creed,*  Kent  and  Wrightson,  one 

Vgeant,  and  one  private,  all   volunteers  of  the  27th   regi- 

tnt ;  and    a    detachment    from    the    four    companies    of 

lingers,  quartered  o'l  the  island  near  Fort  Edward,  viz. 

[pt  Bulkley,  Lieutentnts  Philips,  Moore,  Crafton,  Camp- 

ll,  and  Pottinger  ;   Ensigns  Ross,  Wait,  M'Donald,  and 

[hite,  and    162  private  men.     I  acknowledge  1  entered 

)n  this  service,  and    viewed   this   small   detachment  of 

ive  men  march  out,  with  no  little  concern  and  uneasiness 

mind  ;  for  as  there  was  the  greatest  reason   to  suspect, 

|t  the  French  were,   bv  the  prisoner  and  deserter  above 

itioned,  fully  informed  of  the  design  of  sending  me  out 

in   Putnam's   return  ;  what  could    I  think  !  to   see  my 

ky,  instead  of  being  strengthened  and  augmented,  reduced 

less  than  one  half  of  the  number  at  first   proposed.     I 

It  confess  it  appeared  to  me  (ignorant  and  unskilled  as  I 

was  in  politicks  and  the  arts  of  war)    incomprehen- 

;  but  my  commander  doubt/ess  has  his  reasons^  and  is  able 

indicate  his  own  conduct.      We  marched  to  the  half-way 


V'  • 


Francis  Creed,  Michael  Kent  and  John  Wrightson,  were  three  of  the 
Iteers  from  the  regular  troops  already  mentioned  on  another  page,  as  having 
Jlent  by  Lord  Loudon,  to  be  trained   in  the  Ranging  service  under  Roger's 

Sand  and  inspection. 


41 


94       Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 

brook,  m  the  road  leading  to  Lake  George,  and   there  en- 
camped the'  first  night.* 

The  nth  we  proceeded  as  far  as  the  first  Narrows  on 
Lake  George,  and  encamped  that  evening  on  the  east  side 
of  the  lake  j  and  after  dark,  I  sent  a  partv  three  miles 
further  down,  to  see  if  the  enemy  might  be  coming  towarJi 
our  forts,  but  they  returned  without  discovering  any.  Wei 
were  however  on  our  guird,  and  kept  parties  walking  o.- 
the  lake  all  night,  besides  centries  at  all  necessary  placei  I 
on  the  land. 

The  I2th  we  marched  from  our  encampment  at  sun  rise,! 
and  having  distanced  it  about  three  miles,  I  saw  a  Joij 
running  across  the  lake,  whereupon  I  sent  a  detachn  entt5[ 
reconnoitre  the  island,  thinking  the  Indians  might  havelaicl 
in  anibush  there  for  u-  ;  but  no  such  could  he  discovered [ 
upon  which  I  thought  it  expedient  to  put  to  slioic,  ndkJ 
by  till  night,  to  prevent  any  party  from  descrying  us  on  till 
lake,  from  hills,  or  otherwi^p.  We  halted  at  a  place  callei 
Sabbath  day  Point,  on  the  wtst  side  of  the  lake,  and  ses| 
out  parties  to  look  down  the  lakef  with  perspective  giasse 


*  The  '*  First  Narrows,"  opposite  the  point  ot'  Tongue  Mountain  and 
north  of  the  entrance  of  the  "  North  Arm,"  or  Catikusker  Bay,  of  C,i|)t.  J;: 
son's  map  of  1756,*  are  about  a  mile  in  width,  the  narrowness  being  cau-ti] 
the  numerous  islands  in  the  lake  at  this  point,  rather  than  by  a  convuigan;!! 
the  shores.  This  is  perhaps  the  most  picturesque  part  of  the  lake,  these!!: 
on  all  sides  being  most  grand  and  beautiful.  Tiie  whole  of  these  iblanii 
this  region,  lie  in  the  town  of  Bolton,  Warren  County. 

The  **  Second  Narrows  "  were  very  near  the  outlet  ot  the  lake,  and  ancJ 
carrying  place. 

♦  Known  as  "  Nortn-west  Bay,"  upon  modern  maps. 

j-  Sabbath  D4y  Point,  is  a  low  level   point  of  land,  on  the  west  sideolj 
lake,   in  the  present  town  of  Hague,  Warren  County.      The   lake  here 
more   northerly,  as  we  go  toward   the  outlet,  and   the  point  commands  a:! 
tensive  view  both  up^nd  down  the  lake.      It  alibrds  a  natural  and  conve 
landing  place  and  camping  ground,  and  was  often  used  as  such  in  the  mi- 
expeditions  of  the  French  and  Revolutionary  wars. 

The  origin  of  the  name  is  uncertain  j  but  the  inviting  opportunity  wii^ 
presents  for  quiet  repose,  justifies  the  belief,  that  it  may  have  been  lirstj) 
by  some  early  travelers  who  rested  here  for  a  Sabbath,  on  their  journey  w 
the  lake. 


journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,       95 

which  we  had  for  that   purpose.     As  soon  as   it  was  dark 
we  proceeded   down  the  lake.      1  sent  Lieutenant   PhiHps 
with  fifteen    men,   as   an  advanced   guard,  some  of  whom 
went  before  him  on  scatcs,  while    Ensign    Ross  flanked  us 
on  the   left  under  the  west   shore,  near  which  we  kept  the 
main  body,  marching  as  close  as  possible,  to  prevent  sepa- 
ration, it  being  a  very  dark  night.      In  this  manner  we  con- 
tinued  our   march    till  within   eight    miles  of   the  French 
advanced  guards,  when  Lieutenant   Philips  sent  a  man  on 
scauss  back   to  mc,   to  desire  me  to   halt;  upon  which   I 
[ordered  my  men  to  squat  down  upon  the  ice.     Mr.  Philips 
[soon  came  to  me   himself,  leaving   his   party  to  look  out, 
land  said,  he  imagined  he  had  discovered  a  fire  *  on  the  east 
Ishore,  but  was  not   certain  ;  upon  which  1   sent   with  him 
jEnsign  White,   to  make  further   discoveiy.      In  about   an 
lour  they  returned,    fully  persuaded  that   a   party  of  the 
Bnemy  was  encamped  there.     I  then  called  in  tl  e  advanced 
{uard,  and  flanking   party,   and   marched   on   to   the  west 
ihore,  where,   in  a   thicket,  we   hid  our   sleys  and    packs, 
leaving  a  small  guard  with  them,  and  with  the  remainder  I 
larched  to  attack  the  enemy's  encampment,  if  there  was 
ly ;  but  when  we  came  near  the  place,  no  fires  were  to 
seen,  which   made  us  conclude   that  we  had   mistaken 
)me  bleach   patches  of  snow,  or   pieces  of  rotten  wood, 
)r  fire  (which  in   the   night,  at   a   distance    resembles   it), 
[Thereupon  we   returned   to  our   packs,   and    there    lay  the 
^mainder  of  the  night  without  fire. 
The  13th,  in  the  morning,  I  deliberated  with  the  officers 
)w  o  proceed,  who  were  unanimously  of  opinion,  that  it 
is  best  to  go  by  land  in  snow  shoes,  lest  the  enemy  should 


'■>    ;  ■ 


A  small  party  of  the  French,  as  we  have  since  heard,  had  a  fire  here  at 
I  time  J  but,  discovering  my  advanced  party,  extinguished  their  fire,  and 
tied  the  news  of  our  approach  to  the  French  fort. 

—  Note  by  tht  Author. 

9 


pi 


'\ 


96        'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

discover   us  on   the    lake  ;  we  accordingly   continued  ou:| 
march   on   the   west    side,    keeping    on    the    back    of  ilit 
mountains  that   overlooked    the  Fiench  advanced   guards, 
At  twelve  of  the  clock  we  halted  two  miles  west  ot  ttiosti 
guards,  and  there  refreshed   ourselves  till   three,  that  ttit 
day  srout  from  the  fort  might  be  returned  home  before  w; 
advanced  ;  intending  at  night  to  ambuscade  some  of  thcirj 
roads,  in  order  to  trepan  them  in  the  morning.     We  the:! 
marched    in    two    divisions,    the    one  headed    by   Captai: 
Bulkley,  the  other  by  myself;  Ensigns  White  and  U'ai; 
had  the  rear  guard,  the  other  officers  were  posted  propeml 
in  each  division,  having  a  rivulet  at  a  small  distance  on  on,- 1 
left,  and  a  steep  mountain  on  our  right.     We  kept  cl()set;[ 
the  mountain,  that  the  advanced  guard  might  better  obscntl 
the  rivulet,  on   the  ice  of  which  I  imagined   they   woui; 
travel  if  out,  as  the  snow  was  four  feet  deep,  and  vtrv  kj 
travelling  on  snow  shoes.      In  this  manner  we  marched; 
mile  and  an   half,  when  our  advanced  guard  infornud  iTi| 
of  the  enemy  being  in  their  view  ;  and  soon  after,  thattl^el 
had    ascertained    their    number    to    be    ninety-six,    cliitlij 
Indians.     We  immediately   laid  down  our  packs,  and  prtj 
pared  for  battle,  supposing  these  to  be  the  whole  numb 
or  main    body  of  the   enemy,  who  were   marching   on  uiij 
left    up    the    rivulet,    upon    the    ice.       I    ordered    Ensi^' 
M'Donald  to  the  command  of  the  advanced  guard,  whictj 
as  we  faced  to  the  left,  made  a  flanking  party  to  our  rigkl 
We  marched  to  within  a  few  yards  of  the  bank,  which  w!j 
higher  than  the  ground  we  occupied  ;  and  observing  tfe 
ground  gradually  to  descend   from  the  bank  of  the  rivu!; 
to  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  we  exteided  our  party  alurj 
the  bank,  far  enough  to  command  the  whole  of  the  enemv 
at  once  ;  we  waited  till  their  front  was  nearly  opposite;! 
our  left  wing,  when  I  fired  a  gun,  as  a  signal  for  a  gLiieri 
<  ischarge  upon  them  ;  whereupon  we  gave  them  the  lii 
fire,  which  killed  above  forty  Indians  ;  the  rest  retreatfl 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.       97 

ami  were  pursued  by  about  one-ha.f  of  our  people.      I  now 

imagined  the  enemy    totally  defeated,  and    ordered    Ensign 

jM'DonaUl  to  head  the  flying  rL-mains  of  them,  that  none 

mii>;ht   escape  ;  but    we  soon    found  our  mistake,  and  the 

Ipaity  we   hail   atticked    were  only   their   advanced   guard, 

ItluMr    main    body    com  ng    up,    consisting    of    600    more, 

[Canadians  and   Indians  ;   upon  which  I  ordered  our  people 

to  retreat   to  their  own    ground,  which    we    gained    at  the 

jxpence  of  fifty  men    killed  ;  the    remainder  I  rallied,  and 

Irew  up  in  pretty  good  order,  where  they  fought  with  such 

Intrepidity  and  bravery  as  obliged  the  enemy  (the'  seven  to 

)ne  in  number)  to  retreat  a  second  time  ;  but  we  not  being 

a  condition  to  pursue  them,  they  rallied  again,  and  re- 

tovered  their  ground,  and  w;  Mily   pushed  us  in  front  and 

Both  wings,  while   the    mountain  defended   our   rear  ;  but 

[hey  were  so  warmly  received,  that  their  flanking  parties 

)on  retreated  to  their   main  body  with    considerable  loss. 

"his  threw  the  whole  again  into  disorder,  and  they  retreated 

third  time  ;  but  our  number  being  now  too  far  reduced 

take  advantage  of  their  disorder,  they   rallied  ag  in,  and 

lade  a  fresh   attack   upon   us.     About  this  time   we  dis- 

)vered  200  Indians  going  up  the  mountain  on  our  right, 

we  supposed,  to  get  possession  of  the  rising  ground,  and 

hack  our  rear  j  to  prevent  which  I  sent  Lieutenant  Philips, 

|ith  eighteen   men,  to  gain   the  first  possession,  and  beat 

lem  hack  ;  which  he  did  :  and  b?ing  suspicious  that  the 

jlemy  would  go  round  on  our  left,  and  take  possession  of 

other  part  of  the  hill,  I  sent  Lieutenant  Crafton,  with 

teen  men,  to  prevent  them  there  ;  and  soon  after  desired 

gentlemen,  who  were  volunteers  in  the  party,*  with  a 

men,  to  go  and  support  him,  which  they  did  with  great 

I  very. 

lud  before  this  desired  these  gentlemen  to  retire,  offering  them  a  Serjeant 
Jii  luot  thjm  ;  that  as  they  were  not  used  to  snow  shoes,  and  were  qui'.e 
C'luainted   with  the   woods,  they   would  have    do  chance  of  escaping  the 


^m 


I 


98       Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

The  enemy  pushed  us  so  close  in  front,  that  the  parties 
were  not  more  than  twenty  yards  asunder  in  general,  anc 
sometimes  intermixed  wrth  each  other.  The  fire  ccmtinue' 
almost  constant  for  an  hour  and  half  from  the  beginnings 
the  attack,  in  which  time  we  lost  eight  officeis,  and  more 
than  100  private  men  killed  on  the  spot.  We  were  at 
last  obliged  to  break,  and  I  with  abcvut  twenty  men  ran  up 
the  hill  to  Philips  and  Crafton,  where  we  stopped  and  tirei! 
on  the  Indians,  who  were  eagerly  pushing  us,  with  numberi 
that  we  could  not  withstand.  Lieutenant  Philips  beinj 
surrounded  by  300  Indians,  was  at  this  time  cipitulatinj 
for  himself  and  party,  on  the  other  part  of  th*^  hill.  He 
spoke  to  me,  and  said  if  the  enemy  would  give  them  good! 
quarters,  he  thought  it  best  to  surrender,  otherwise  that  he 
would  fight  while  he  had  one  man  left  to  fire  a  gun.* 


enemy,  in  case  we  should  be  broke  and  put  to  fliglit.  which  I  very  niuth  ^u:• 
pected.  They  at  first  seemed  to  accept  the  offtM-,  and  began  to  retire;  k.\ 
leeing  us  so  closely  beset,  they  undauntedly  returned  to  our  assistance.  \Vhi;| 
befel  them  after  our  flight,  may  be  seen  by  a  letter  from  one  of  the  gentlcrattj 
to  the  commanding  officer,  which  I  have  inserted  next  to  this  account  of  ctf 
scout. — Note  by  the  Author. 

*Thi8  unfortunate  officer,  and  his  whole  party,  after  they  surrendered,  upusj 
the  strongest  assurances  of  good    treatment  from   the  enemy,  were   inhumjn;; 
tied  up  to  trees  and  hewn  to  pieces,  in  a  most  barbarous  and  shocking  mannf: 

—  Note  hy  the  Authir 

There  appears  to  have  been  an  error  in  this  statement  as  will  appear  intcJ 
subsequent  part  of  this  note.     It  must  have  been  overlooked  by  the  autl 
because  this  same  man  Phillips  is  subsequently  mentioned  in  the  Journ.il. 

Lieut.  William  Phillips  was  half  Indian,  his  father  being  of  Dutch  oi  FrenJ 
origin,  and  at  the  time  when  the  war  began,  he  resided  near  Albany.  Heer 
listed  in  Roger's  c,ompany  in  1755,  became  a  sergeant,  and  after  the  battle::! 
Lake  Champlain,  January  21,  1757,  he  received  a  lieutenant's  commission  !ro:I 
the  Earl  of  Loudon.  The  following  account  of  his  adventures  in  the  encountrl 
on  Lake  George,  is  givep  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bouton,  in  his  History  of  Cj>:<'''\ 
N.  H.  : 

"In  the  bloody  fight  at  Lake  George,  March  13,  1758,  when  PhilipsiKJ 
his  company  of  about  twenty  men  were  nearly  surrounded  by  about  m 
hundred  Indians,  he  said  to  Rogers,  if  the  enemy  would  give  good  quarters, 
thought  it  best  to  surrender,  otherwise  he  would  fight  while  he  had  a  man  Iti 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.       99 

I  now  thought  it  most  prudent  to  retreat,  and  bring  ofF 
(with  me  as  many  of  my  party  as  I  possibly  could,  which  I 
immediately  did  ;  the   Indians  closely  pursuing   us  at   the 

le  time,  took  several   prisoners.     We  came   to   Lake 

leorge  in  the   evening,  where  we  found   several  wounded 

len,  whom  we  took  with   us  to  the  place  where  we   had 

left  our  sleds,   from  vvhence   I   sent   an  express   to   Fort 

Edward,  desiring  Mr.  Haviland  to  send  a  party  to  meet  us, 

knd  assist  in  Sringing  in  the  wounded  ;  with  the  remainder 

tarried  there  the  whole   night,  without  fire  or  blankets, 

Ind  in   the  morning  we  proceeded  up   the  lake,  and  met 

rith  Captain  Stark  at    Hoop  Island,  six  miles  north  from 

port  William  Henry,  and  encamped  there  that  night ;  the 

6xt  day  being  the  15th,  in  the  evening  we  arrived  at  Fort 

Edward.* 


!i, 


I  Are  a  gun  !     He  and  his  party  were  all  taken,  and  fastened   tu  trees  by  the 
kdians,  for  the  purpose  of  being   shot  or  hewn   to  pieces.     Philips   got  one 
nd  loose,  took  a  knife  from  his  pocket,  which  he  opened  with  his  teeth,  cut 
|e  string  that  bound  him  and  escaped." 

—  Bouton^s  History  of  Concord,  p,  200. 

[Tills  account,   based,    it   is  true   upon   tradition,  was  generally  accepted   by 

Ose  with  whom   he  was   acquainted   in   after   life.     After   the  war,    Phillips 

ailiarly  known  as  "  Bill  Phillips,"  lived  for  some  time  in  Rumford,  [Con- 

1]  where  lie  married  Miss  Eleanor  Eastman,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  Eastman, 

by  whom   he  had   .1  son.     About    1784,  his  wife  joined   the  Shakers   at 

iterliury,  but  Phillips  said  he  "  ccjld  not  dance,  and  would  not  join."     He 

Jrwards  lived  a  roving,  unsettled  life —  fishing,  hunting  and  stealing f  somC' 

working  at   the   blacksmith's   trade,  of  which    he  knew  a   little,  and  at 

cr  times  woiking  at  day's  labor.     He  lived  a  while  with  his  wife's  brother, 

Son  Eastman,  but  at  length  became  a  pauper,  and  according  to  usage  of  the 

was  "bid  otf,"  to  be  supported  at  the  town  charge.      He  lived  several 

in  the  family  of  Richard    Potter,  of  Anthony  Potter,  of  Joseph  Potter 

Ebenezer  Tenney,  on  the  Loudon  road.  ^  At  length  it  was  discovered  that 

Hd  gained  a  residence  in  Northfield,  where   he  died  about   the  year.1819, 

I,  as  was  supposed,  about  a  hundred  years.     His  wife  died   at   the  Shaker 

||ement  at  Canterbury,  November  17,  18 16,  aged  70  years. 

— Bouton^s  History  of  Concordy  p.  2C  ). 

LThe  account  of  this  battle  given  by  Puuchot,  the  French   historian,  is  as 
[On  the  ist  of  March,  a  party  of  two  hundred  of  our  domiciled  Indiani  and 


! 


I 


..  L 


•   i  '"1  I 


loo     'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

The  number  of  the  enemy  was  about  700,  600  of  whid 
were  Indians.  By  the  best  accounts  we  could  get,  wt 
killed  150  of  them,  and  wounded  as  many  more.  I  wi 
not   pretend   to  determine  what  we  should  have  done  hai 


forty  Canadians   left   Montreal.     These  Indians  coming   to  the  fort,  asked  ^i 
M.   d'llbecourt,  the  commandant,  some  provisions,  and   said   they  wished  ::l 
rest  a  few  days,  before  setting  out  on  their  march.     He  gave  them  some,  mi 
a  little  brandy,  and   the   Indians  returned    to  their  camp,  and   began  tu  driul 
One  of  them  who  did  ijot  wish  to  join  them,  begin  a  jugglery,  and  after  scjul 
time  he  called  the  rest  to  a  council,  and  told  them  "hat  he  had  learned  bytis 
means  that  the  English  had  out   a  party,  who  had  come   to  Carillon  and  tkl 
they  could  not   be  far  distant.      He  then  exhorted  his  comrades  to  set  out  :J 
next  day,  which  they  in  fact  did.     The  commandant  was  agreeibly  surj::,: 
at  this  prompt  resolution  of  relieving  him,  and  granted  all  they  asked.    Sev;J 
officers  and  soldiers  of  the  garrison  wished  to  join  the  expedition.     Thevp:j 
ceeded  along   the  lake  shore,  and  at  three  leafiues  beycmd,  their  scouts  notci 
the  tracks  of  men  in  considerable  numbers  on  the  ice,  and  reported  thiuir. 
It  was  determined  at  once  to  retire  into  the  woods   near  which    the  En;; 
would  pass.     Our  scouts  seeing  the  English  troops  descending  a   little  hill 
to  notify  their  people  that  they  were   approaching.     They  arrived   at  a  tsj 
elevation  by  the  time  that  the  English  were  at  the  bottom  of  the  hill,  andtiJ 
at  once  attacked  them,  killing  one  hundred  and  forty-six  upon  the  spot.  TiJ 
did   not  save   more   than   the  fifth   part  of  the  two  hundred   that  theyi 
Robert   Rogers  who  commanded   them,  left   his  clothes,   his  commission; 
his  instructions,  to  enable  him  the  better  to  flee.     Eleven  officers  or  volun;;5 
had  joined  this    detachment    of  whom  four   belonged   to  regiments  thit  '■ 
lately  arrived  from  England.    Five  were  taken  prisoners  to  Carillon,  and  oisd 
were  lost  in  the  woods,  where  they  perished  of  hunger.     We  had  in  this  jc 
five  Iroquois  of  the  Sault.      Killed  one  Meppissen  of  the  lake,  and  tlirL'ei!i;| 
Iroquois  mortally  wounded.     This  was  the  most  vigorous  action  of  the  Indid 
They  afterwards  formed  a  select  detachment  of"  v  )lunteers,  under  the  mv. 
Deccuverues. 

—  .Pouc/iot's  Memoirs  (Hough's  Translation),  i,  p.  i:ij 

Substantially  the  same  account  is  given  by  Adjutant  Malartic,  in  his  ']■• 
0/  Occurrences  in  Canada,  1757,  1758,  under  date  of  March  19,  1758; 

"  A  cadet  detached  from  Carillon,  came  to  inform  the  general  that  Ml 
Durantaye's  party  had  arrived  the  12th,  on  which  day  an  old  sorcerer: 
assured  them  that  tijey  would  see  the  English  before  long  ;  on  the  m  1 
of  the  13th  five  or  six  Indian  scouts  came  to  say  that  they  had  iliiijvfj 
fresh  tracks  of  two  hundred  men,  whereupon  the  chiers  raised  the  muiij 
whoop  and  set  out  immediately  with  their  warriors,  some  soldiers  and  Caniiii 
who  travelled   three  leagues   without   meeting  any  one;  suspecting  thais 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,     loi 


K  been  400  or  more  strong ;  but  this  I  am  obliged  to  say 

\i  those  brave  men  who  attended  me  (most  of  whom  are 

bow  no  more)  both  officers  and  soldiers  in  their  respective 

itions  behaved  with  uncommon  resolution  and  courage  ; 


Dglish  had  taken  the  Falls  road,  they  took  the  same  course.   M.  la    Durantaye, 
1)0  had  joined  them  at  the  Bald  mountain,  was  with  the  Vanguard ;  he  re- 
ived the  enemy's  first  fire  which  made  him  fall  back  a  little,  and  gave  them 
Be  to  scalp  two  Indians  whom  they  had  killed.     Meanwhile  M.  de  Langy 
ring  turned  them  with  a  strong  party  of  Indians,  and  having  fallen  on  them 
hen  they  felt  sure   of  victory,  had   entirely  defeated    them.      The   Indians 
Ifing  discovered  a  chief's  scalp  in  the  breast  of  an  officer's  jacket,  refused  all 
irter,  and  took  one  hundred  and  fourteen  scalps.     The  opinion  is,  that  only 
Jve  or  thirteen  men   escaped,  and   that   this  detachment  was  comprised   of 
hundred  and  seventy  to  one  hundred  and  eighty,  commanded   by  Captain 
gers,  who  is  supposed  to  be  among  the  killed." 

■N.  Y.  Colonial  Hi  story  y  x,  837. 
The  modern  tourist  in  passing  through  Lake  George,  cannot  fail  of  having 
[attention  called  to  a  rock  just  south  of  the  Essex  county  line  sloping  from 
ilevation  of  some  five  hundred  feet,  by  a  steep  angle  down  to  the  lake.  It 
the  west  side,  about  six  miles  from  the  outlet,  and  is  known  in  all  maps 
I  guide  books  as  "  Roger's  Slide."  According  to  the  tradition,  the  intrepid 
er,  in  the  winter  of  «,  in  an  encounter  with   an  overwhelming  force 


ir  the  command  of  — 
and  escaping  across 


,  here  eluded   his  pursuers  by  gliding  down  the 

the  ice.      Had    this  incident    actually  occurred,  it 


scarcely  have  been  overlooked    by  our  author,  and    his  complete  silence 

the  subject,  appears  to  justify  the  belief  that  it  has  no  foundation  in  truth. 

ticethat  Mr.  W.  C.  Watson  in  his  History  of  Essex  County  (p.  83)  regards 

iradition  as  a  myth.      If  it  occurred,  it  must  have  been  upon  the  expedition 

nutic'^d   in  the   text,  and  if  the  romantic  or  the   credulous   insist   upon 

Bg  this  incident  believed,  there  is  no  point  on  the  lake  more  suitable  than 

jfor  the  exploit,  and   no  occasion  more  probable  than  that  of  this  date    for 

currence. 

B.  C.  Butler  in  his  Lake  George  and  Lake  Champlain  (p.  191),  gives  a 
[irubable  version  of  the  origin  of  the  name.  He  says : 
lo-eis  himself  escaped  by  approaching  Bald  Mountain,  at  the  place  since 
h'u'^er's  Slide,  then  reversing  his  snow  shoes,  and  taking  a  back  track 
Bmc  distance,  he  swung  himself  by  a  convenient  branch  into  the  defile, 
Buiui  his  way  thence  down  into  the  lake.  The  Indians  followed,  ap- 
liel  the  slide,  and  were  awestruck  at  the  apparent  feat  of  sliding  down 
six  hundred  feet  into  the  lake,  and  gave  up  the  pursuit." 
le  Montcalm  in  a  letter  to  M.  de  Paulmy,  dated  Montreal,  April  10, 
I  in  speaking  of  this  encounter,  says  : 


UA 


I'  1 


1 02     journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


nor  do  I  know  an  instance  during  the  whole  action  in  which 
I  can  justly  impeach  the  prudence  or  good  conduct  of  any 
one  of  them.* 


-.3; 


The  following  is  a  List  of  the  Killed^  Missing,  &c. 

The  Captain  and  Lieutenant  of  his  Majesty's  regular  troops 
volunteers  in  this  party,  were  taken  prisoners  ;  the  Ensign, 
another  volunteer  of  the  same  corps,  was  killed,  as  were 
two  volunteers,  and  a  Serjeant  of  the  said  corps,  and  one 
private. 

Of  Capt.  Rogers's  Company, 

Lieut.  Moore   -         -  -         -         Killed. 
Serjeant  Parnell    -         .         -         -     Ditto. 

Thirty-six  privates    -  -         -         Ditto. 


"  The  English  detachment  consisted  of  two  hundred  picked  men,  under  tht 
command  of  Major  Rogers,  their  most  famous  partisan,  and  twelve  officers 
He  has  been  utterly  defeated ;  our  Indians  would  give  no  quarter ;  they  hare 
brought  back  one  hundred  and  forty-six  scalps  ;  they  retained  only  three 
prisoners  to  furnish  /I've  letters  to  their  father.  About  four  or  five  days  after, 
two  officers  and  five  English  surrendered  themselves  prisoners,  because  they 
were  wandering  in  the  woods,  dying  of  hunger.  I  am  fully  persuaded  that  the 
small  number  who  escaped  the  fury  of  the  Indians  will  perish  of  want  and  not 
have  returned,  to  Fort  Lydius,  we  had  two  colonial  cadets  and  one  Canadian 
slightly  wounded,  but  the  Indians  who  are  not  accustomed  to  lose,  have  had 
eight  killed  and  seventeen  wounded,  two  of  whom  are  dying.  The  Marqui> 
de  Vaudreuil  takes  great  care  of  the  sick,  has  made  presents  in  the  name  ot 
the  gieat  Ononthio  (that  is,  the  king),  to  the  families  of  those  who  have  been 
slain,  and  the  dead  on  this  occasion  have  been  covered  with  great  ceremony; 
the  Indians  are  content  and  very  anxious  to  avenge  the  loss.  Lieut,  de  Fouviei, 
of  the  la  Sarre  regiment,  and  Sieur  d'Avenne  proposed  to  be  employed  on  tli! 
regiment  of  Languedoc,  have  distinguished  themselves  on  this  occasion." 

—  N.  Y.  Colonial  Hist.,  x,  693. 

See  also  p.  697  of  the  same  volume. 

*  John  Ogilvie  in  writin|  to  Sir  William  Johnson,  March  28,  1758,51)1: 
"  The  late  affair  of  Rogers  was  gallant  and  bloody,  and  a  considerable  proot 

of  his  bravery  and  conduct,  but  envy,  that  arch  fiend,  will  not  allow  him  mucli 

merit. 

— yohnun  Mss.^  xxiii,  276. 


3aB«.aMTOBaiBji 


Journals  oj  Major  Robert  Rogers,     103 


Of  Capt.  Shepherd's  Company, 
Two  Serjeants 
Sixteen  privates 

Of  Capt.  James  Rogers's  Company, 
Ensign  M' Donald      - 

Of  Capt.  John  Starks's  Company, 
Two  Serjeants      -         -         - 
Fourteen  privates       -         .         - 

Of  Capt.  Bulkley's  Company, 
Capt.  Bulkley 
Lieut.  Pottinger 
Ensign  White 
Forty-seven  privates 

Of  Capt.  William  Starks's  Company, 
Ensign  Ross         .         .         _ 

Of  Capt.  Brewer's  Company, 

Lieut.  Campbell         .         _         - 

A  gentleman  of  the  army,  who  was  a  volunteer  on  this 
party,  and  who  with  another  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
French,  wrote  the  following  lc;ter,  some  time  after,  to  the 
officer  commanding  the  regiment  they  belonged  to  at  Fort 

Edward.* 


Killed. 

Killed. 
Ditto. 

Killed. 

Ditto. 

Ditto. 

K.  and  Miss. 

Killed. 

Killed. 


Carillon^  March  28,  1758. 

''  Dear  Sir, 

"  As  a  flag  of  truce  is  daily  expected  here  with  an  answer 
jto  Monsieur  Yaudreuil,  I  sit  down  to  write  the  moment  I 
lam  able,  in  order  to  have  a  letter  ready,  as  no  doubt  you 
[and  our  friends  at   Fort  Edward  are  anxious  to   be    in- 


\  ^  In  Stark's  edition,  the  authorship  of"  the  letter  is  ascribed  to  Captain 
"rancis  Reed,  one  of  the  volunteers  from  the  27th  regiment,  mentioned  on 
Duther  page. 

10 


:■-(.    -3  •  s 


'^t 


104     "Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


formed    about    Mr. 


and     me,    whom,    piobablv 


you  have  reckoned   amongst  the  slain  in  our  unfortunate  I 
rencontre    of   the    13th    concerning    which    at    present 
shall   not   be  particular;  only  to  do  this   justice  to  thretl 
who     lost    their    lives    there,     and     to    those     who  bvt 
escaped,  to  assure   you,   Sir,   that    such  dispositions  werti 
formed    by  the    enemy  (who  discovered    us  long  enouKJ 
before),  it   was  impossible  for  a  party  so  weak  as  ours  til 
hope  for  even  a  retreat.     Towards   the   conclusion  of  tkl 
affair,  it  was  cried   from  a  rising   ground   on   our  right, t;| 
retire  there;  where,  after  scrambling  with  difficulty,  asi 
was  unaccustomed  to  snow  shoes,  I  found  Capt.  Rogers,ar,i| 
told  him,  that  I  saw,  to  retire  further  was  impossible,  thertj 
fore   earnestly  begged  we   might    collect  all   the   men  lelJ 

and  make  a  stand  there.     Mr.  ,  who  was  with  hiil 

was  of  my  opinion,  and  Capt  Rogers  also  ;  who  therefcil 
desired  me  to  maintain  one  side  of  the  hill,  whilst  hedtl 
fend».d  the  other.  Our  parties  did  not  exceed  above  tei 
or  twelve  in  each,  and  mine  was  shifting  towards  ttj 
mountain,  leaving  me  unable  to  defend  my  post,  or  J 
labour  with  them  up  the  hill.  In  the  mean  time,  Caa 
Rogers  with  his  party  came  to  me,  and  said  (as  did  all  tlicij 
with  him)  that  a  large  body  of  Indians  had  ascended  to( 
right ;  he  likewise  added,  what  was  true,  that  the  comii| 
was  very  unequal,   that   I  must   retire,  and    he  would  fj 

Mr..  and  me  a   serjeant  to  conduct   us   thro' 

mountain.  No  doubt  prudence  required  us  to  accept! 
offer ;  but  besides  one  of  my  snow  shoes  being  unticiij 
knew  myself  unable  to  march  as  fast  as  was  requisite f 
avoid  becoming  a  sacrifice  to  an  enemy  we  c6uld  no  lonl 
oppose ;  I  therefore  begged  of  him  to  proceed,  aiif 
leaned  against  g  rock  in  the  path,  determined  to  subniiij 
a    fate    I   thought   unavoidable.       Unfortunately   for  JI 

■ his    snow   shoes  were    loosened   likewise,  wis 

obliged  him  to  determine  with  me,  not  to  labour  in  a  I 


"Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     105 

we  were  both  unequal  to.     Every  instant  we  expected  the 

[savages ;  but  what  induced  them  to  quit  this  path,  in  which 

jwe  actually   saw   them,  we  are   ignorant   of,  unless  they 

langed  it  for  a  shorter,  to   intercept   those  who  had  just 

left  us.     By  their  noise,  and   making  a  fire,  we   imagined 

ley  had  got  the  rum  in  the  Rangers  packs.     This  thought 

mh  the  approach  of  night,  gave  us   the  first   hopes  of  re- 

kirino; ;   and   when   the    moon   arose,   we  marched    to   the 

Southward  along  the  monntains  about  three  hours,  which 

brought  us  to  ice,  and  gave  us  reason  to  hope  our  difficul- 

ies  were  almost   past ;  but  we  k^ew  not  we  had  enemies 

[et  to  combat  with,  more  cruel  than  the  savages  we  had 

gcaped.     We  marched  all    night  and  on   the   morning  of 

le  14th  found  ourselves  entirely  unacquainted  witn  the  ice. 

[ere  we  saw  a   man,  who  came  towards   us  ;  he  was  the 

trvaiit  of  Capt.  Rogers,  with  whom    he  had   been  often- 

les  all  over  the  country,  and,  without  the  least  hesitation 

Ihatsoevcr,  he  informed  us  we  were  upon  South  bay  •,  that 

^ood  creek,  was  just  before  us  -,  that  he  knew  the  way  to 

)rt  Anne  extremely   well,  and   would   take   us   to  Fort 

Iwaid    the   next   day.       Notwithstanding   we   were   dis- 

pointed  in  our  hopes  of  being  upon   Lake  George,  we 

)ught  ourselves  fortunate   in   meeting  such  a   guide  to 

jlom  we  gave  entire  confidence,  and  which  he  in  fact  con- 

Jied,  by  bringing   us  to  a  creek,  where   he   shewed   the 

:ks  of  Indians,  and  the  path  he  said  they  had  taken  to 

rt  Anne.     After  struggling  thro'  the  snow  some  hours, 

were  obliged  to  halt  to  make  snow  shoes,  as  Mr. 

the  guide  had  left  theirs  at  arriving  upon  the  ice. 
fere  we  remained  all  night,  without  any  blankets,  no  coat, 
'  but  a  single  waistcoat  each,  for  I  gave  one  of  mine  to 

,  who   had   laid  aside   his  green   jacket  in  the 

as  I  did  likewise  my  furred  cap,  which  became  a 
Ik  to  the  enemy,  and  probably  was  the  cause-  of  a  slight 
ind  in  my  face ;  so  that  I  had  but  a  silk  handkerchief 


f 


^.;4«-:.;^ 

i!.  i: 

1 

i 

'1  [.;-;,;      , 

s 


1 06     'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

* 

on   my  head,  and   our  fire  could   not    be  large,  as  we  had 
nothing  to  cut  wood  with.      Before  morning  we  contrived, 
with  forked   sticks  and    strings  of"  leather,  a  sort  of  snow 
shoes    to    prevent    sinking    entirely  ;  and    on    the     15th, 
followed  our  guide  west  all  day,  hut   he  did   not  fulfil  his 
promise  ;  however  the  next  day  it  was  impossible  to  fail;! 
but  even  then,  the  i6th,  he  was  unsuccessful  ;   vet  still  we 
were  patient,  because  he  seemed  well  acquainted  with  ttie 
way,  for  he  gave  every  mountain  a   name,  and  shewed  A 
several   places,  where  he  said    his  master   had  either   killejl 
deer  or   encamped.     Thi  ground,   or   rather  the  want  o.I 
sunshine,  made  us  incline  to  the  southward,  from  whenctl 
by  accident   we   saw  ice,  at   several   miles  distance,  to  tlifl 
south-east.      I  was  very  certain,  that,  after   marching  twol 
days  west  of  South  bay,  Lake  George  could  not  lie  soutlif 
east  from  us,  and  therefore  concluded  this  to  be  the  uppe: 
end  of  the   bay    we    had    left.      For  this   reason,  togethc; 
with  the  assurances  of  our  guide,  I  advised  continuing  oiij 
course  to  the  west,  which  must  shortly  strike  Fort  Annej 
or    some    other   place  that   we    knew.      But    Mr.  — 
wished  to  be  upon  the  ice  at  any  rate  ;   he  was  unable  [J 
continue  in  the  snow,  for  the  difficulties  of  our  march  ha;| 
overcome  him.     And  really,  sir^   was   I    to  be   minute il 
those   we   had  experienced  already    and    afterwards,  thcj 
would   almost  be  as   tiresome  to  you  to  read,  as  they  wen] 
to  us  to  suffer. 

Our  snow  shoes  breaking,  and  sinking  to  our  middj 
every  fifty  paces,  the  scrambling  up  mountains,  and  acroM 
fallen  timber,  our  nights  without  sleep  or  covering,  aiil 
but  little  fii'e,  gathered  with  great  fatigue,  our  sustenancl 
mostly  water,  and  the  bark  and  b  "ries  of  trees  ;  for  allou] 
provisions  fron>«  the  beginning  was  only  a  small  bologa 
sausage,  and  a  little  ginger,  I  happened  to  have,  and  whicj 
even  now  was  very  much  decreased  ;  so  that  I  knew  m 
how  to  oppose  Mr.  — — — 's  intreaties  ;  but  as  our  guii 


journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,     107 

Istill  persisted  Fort  Anne  was  near,  we  concluded  to  search 
la  little  longer,  and  if  we  made  no  discovery  to  proceed  next 
iay  towards  the  ice;  but  we  fought  in  vain,  as  did  our 
ruide  the  next  morning,  tho'  he  returned,  confidently  as- 
serting he  had  discovered  fresh  proofs,  that  the  fort  could 
not  be  far  off.  I  confess  I  was  still  inclined  to  follow  him, 
lor  I  was  almost  certain  the  best  we  could  hope  from  des- 
cending upon  this  ice  to  our  left,  was  to  throw  ourselves 
no  the  hands  of  the  French,  and  perhaps  not  be  able  to 
Feet  even  that  ;  but,  from  the  circumstances  I  have  men- 
loned,  it  was  a  point  I  must  yield  to,  which  I  did  with 
jreat  reluctancy.  The  whole  day  of  the  17th  we  marched 
idreadful  road,  between  the  mountains,  with  but  one  good 
low  shoe  each,  the  other  of  our  own  making  being  almost 
geless.  The  i8th  brought  us  to  the  ice,  which  tho'  we 
[e  longed  to  arrive  at,  yet  I  still  dreaded  the  consequence, 
id  with  reason,  for  the  first  sight  informed  us,  it  was  the 
try  place  we  had  left  five  days  before.  Here  I  must  own 
|y  resolution  almost  failed  me  ;  when  fatigue,  cold,  hunger, 
)d  even  the  prospect  of  perishing  in  the  woods  attended 
I,  I  still  had  hopes,  and  >till  gave  encouragement,  but  now 
/anted  it  myself;  we  had  no  resource  but  to  throw  our- 
Ives  into  the  enemy's  hands,  or  perish.  We  had  nothing 
eat,  our  slender  stock  had  been  equally  shared  amongst 
jthree,  and  we  were  not  so  fortunate  as  ever  to  see  either 
Id  or  beast  to  shoot  at.  When  our  first  thoughts  were 
little  calmed  we  conceived  hopes,  that,  if  we  appeared 
Tore  the  French  fort,  with  a  white  flag,  the  command- 
officer  wonld  relieve  and  return  us  to  Fort  Edward, 
^is  served  to  palliate  our  nearest  approach  to  despair,  and 
prmined  a  resolution,  where,  in  fact,  we  had  no  choice, 
lew  Carillon  had  an  extensive  view  up  South  bay,  there- 
we  concluded  to  halt  during  the  evening,  and  march 
le  night,  that  we  might  approach  it  in  the  morning,  be- 
the  wind  pierced  us  like  a  sword  ;   but  instead  of  its 


J 
^ 


1 08     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


abating  it   increased,  together  with  a  freezing  rain,  thai 
incrusted   us  entirely   with   ice,  and   obliged  us  to  remain 
until   morning,  the    19th,  when  we    fortunately  got  some 
juniper  berries,  which  revived,  gave  us  spirits,  and  I  thougli; 
strength.     We  were  both  so  firmly  of  that   opinion,  that  I 
we  proposed  taking  the  advantage  of  its  being  a  dark  snowi 
day,  to  approach  Carillon,  to  pass  it  in  the  night,  andgeil 
upon   Lake   George.     With   difficulty    we   persuaded  the 
guide  to  be  of  our  opinion,  we  promised   large   rewards  id 
vain,  until  I  assured  him  of  provisions  hid  upon  the  lake; 
but  we  little  considered  how  much  nature  was  exhausted, 
and  how   unequal  we   were  to  the   task  ;   however,  a  te»j 
miles  convinced    us,  we  were  soon   midway  up  our  legsicj 
the  new  fallen  snow  ;    it  drove  full  in  our  faces,  and  wail 
as  dark  as  the  fogs  upon  the  banks  of  Newfoundland.  Oii;[ 
strength  and  our  hopes  sunk  together,  nay,  even  those  o!| 
reaching  Carillon  were  doubtful,  but  we  must  proceed  o:[ 
perish.     As  it  cleared  up  a  little,  we  laboured  to  see  M 
fort,  which  at  every  turn  we  expected,  until  we  came  iJ 
where  the  ice  was  gone,  and  the  water  narrow.     This 
not  agree  with  my  idea  of  South   Bay,  but  it  was  no  timJ 
for  reflection  ;  we  quitted    the   ice  to  the   left,   and  atk[ 
marching  two  miles,  our  guide  assured  us  we  ought  toixl 
on  the  other  side  of  the  water.     This  was  a  very  distressirj 
circumstance,  yet  we  returned  to  the  ice  and  passed  to  til 
right,  where,  after  struggling  through  the  snow,  about  (oJ 
miles,  and  breaking  in  every  step,  as  we  had  no  snow  shifil 
we  were  stopped   by  a  large  waterfall.      Here  I  was  agaf 
astonished  with   appearances,  but   nothing  now  was  to 
thought  of  "only  reaching  the  fort  before  night ;  yet  to  pa^ 
this  place  seemed  impracticable:  however,  I  attemptciii 
ford  it  a  little  higher,  and  had  almost  gained  the  opposJ 
shore,  where  the  depth  of  the  water  which  was  up  toiij 
breast,  and  the  rapidity  of  the  stream,  hurried  me  ofFt 
slippery  rocks,  and   plunged  me  entirely  in  the  waters. 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      109 


ain,  that 
:)  remain 
rot  somt  I 
1  thougk 
nion,  thai  I 
irk  snow\ 
t,  and  2e'J 
uaded  ilie 
rewards  in 
the  lake;! 
exhaustci,! 
ver,  a  few 
our  legsir' 
;s,  and  wai 
iland.  Oil! 
en  those  oi 
proceed  o;| 
,  to  see  til! 
ve  came  i; 
This  dr. 
i^as  no  tiniil 
;,  'and  atte:' 
ought  tol« 
y  distressirJ 
assed  to  tM 
-^  about  toi 
•snow  sh'ie'] 
I  was  aaai 
was  to 
yet  to  pii 
tttempteil' 
the  opposi' 
as  up  toitj 
nie  off  I' 
waters. 


was  obl/ged   to   quit   my  fuzee,  and  with   great   difficulty 

escaped  being  carried   down  the  fall.      Mr. ,  who 

followed  me,  and  the  guide,  though  they  held  by  one 
another,  suffered  the  same  fate  ;  but  the  hopes  of  soon 
reaching  a  fire  made  us  think  lightly  of  this  ;  as  night 
approached,  we  laboured  excessively  through  the  snow ; 
e  were  certain  the  fort  was  not  far  from  us,  but  our  guide 
onfessed,  for  the  first  time,  that  he  was  at  a  loss.  Here 
e  plainly  observed  that  his  brain  was  affected  ;  he  saw 
ndians  all  arour^d  him,  and  though  we  have  since  learned 
e  had  every  thing  to  fear  from  them,  yet  it  was  a  danger 
e  did  not  now  attend  to  ;  nay,  we  shouted  aloud  several 
imes  to  give  information  we  were  there  ;  but  we  could 
ither  hear  nor  see  anybody  to  lead  us  right,  or  more 
ely  to  destroy  us,  and  if  we  halted  a  minute  we  became 
liars  of  ice;  so  that  we  resolved,  as  it  froze  so  hard,  to 
ake  a  fire,  although  the  danger  was  apparent.  Acciden- 
lly  we  had  one  dry  cartridge,  and  in  trying  with  my  pistol 

it  would  flash  a  little  of  the  powder  Mr. unfor- 

bately  held  the  cartridge  too  near,  by  which  it  took  fire, 

5w  up  in  our  faces,  almost  blinded  him,  and  gave  excessive 

lin.    This  indeed  promised,  to  be  the  last  stroke  of  fortune, 

our  hopes  of  a  fire  were  now  no  more  ;  but  although 

were  not  anxious  about  life,  we    knew  it  was  more   bc- 

ling  to  oppose  than  yield  to  this  last  misfortune.     We 

ide  a  path  round  a  tree,  and  there  exercsied  all  the  night, 

pugh  scarcely  able  to  stand,  or  prevent  each  other  from 

5ping.     Our  guide,  notwithstanding  repeated  cautions, 

Iggled  from  us,  where  he  sat  down  and  died  immediately. 

the  morning  of  the  2rth,  we   saw  the  fort,  which  we 

broached  with  a  white   flag  ;  the  officers   run   violently 

|ards  us,  and   saved   us  from  a  danger  we  did  not  then 

rehend ;  for  we  are  informed,  that  if  the  Indians,  who 

close  after  them,  had  seized  us  first,  it  would  not  have 

in  the  power  of  the  French  to  have  prevented  our 


1 1  o     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

being  hurried  to  tneir  camp)  and  perhaps   to  Montreal  tk: 
next  day,  or  killed  for  not   being    able   to  march.     MonJ 
Debecourt  and  all  his  officers  treat  us  with  humanity  a.i: 
politeness  and  are  solicitous  in  our  recovery,  which  returril 
slowly,  as   you  may  imagine,  from  all   thsee  difficultiei 
and  though  I  have  omitted   many,  yet  I  am  afiaid  youwil 
think  me  too  prolix  ;  but  we  wish,  Sir,  to  persuade  you 
a  truth,  that   nothing  but  the   situation    I    have  faithtfu! 
described  could  determine  us  in  a  resolution  which  appear::} 
only  one  degree  preferable  *.o  perishing  in^the  woods. 

"  I  shall  make  no  comments  upon  these  distresses; 
malicious  perhaps  will  say,  which  is  very  true,  we  broud 
them  upon  ourselves  j  but  let  them  not  wantonly  add,  xl 
deserved  them  because  we  were  unsuccessful.  Theymiuj 
allow  we  could  not  be  led  abroad,  at  such  a  season  otsncil 
aud  ice,  for  amusement,  or  by  an  idle  curiosity.  I  gaii 
you,  Sir,  my  reasons  for  asking  leave,  which  you  wq 
pleased  to  approve,  ar.d  I  hope  will  defend  them  -,  andtiJ 
same  would  make  me  again,  as  a  volunteer,  experiencta 
chance  of  war  to-morrow,  had    I   an  opportunity      Thei 

are  Mr. 's  sentiments  as  well  as  mine  ;  and  we  boJ 

know  you.  Sir,  too  well,   to  harboin    the   least   doubt  J 
receiving  justice  with   regard  to  our  conduct   in  this  aft] 
or  our  promotion    in  the  legiment  ;  the   prospect  of 
joining  that  so  soon  as  we  flattered  ourselves,  hasdepie>i 
our  spirits  to  the  lowest   degree,  so   that  we  earnestly  i;| 
you  will  be  solicitous  with  the  General  to  have  us  restol 
as  soon  as  possible,  or  at  least  to  prevent  our  being  sen! 
France,  and  separated  from  yeu,  perhaps,  during  the  wij 

I  have-  but  one  thing  more  !o  add,  which  we  learK 
here,  and  which  perhaps  you  have  already  observed  tri 
what  I  have  sjid,  that  we  were  upon  no  other  ice  thani 
of  Lake  George ;  but  by  the  day  overtaking  us,  the  m\ 
ing  of  the  14th,  in  the  very  place  we  had,  in  comil 
marched  during  the  night,  we  were  entirely  unacquaicj 


itreal  th; 

lanity  arJ 

ch  retuffi' 
ifficultiei, 
d  you  wi 
ade  youq 
:  faithtfat 
:h  appear;! 
oods. 
resses  ■,  tkl 
we  broud 
,n\y  add,xj 
They  mJ 
tson  ot"  snoif 

iity.    h^] 
•h   yuu  w« 

em  •,  ■•in<i'i 
xperienced 

.itv .     Tti« 
and  we  boj 

ast   ilo"^' 
in  this  affi: 
spect  of  r,j 
hasdepre^ 
,earnestlyl^ 
e  us  resto^'l 
being  seni] 
[ing  the  mj 
h  we  leatij 
(bservedfq 
ice  thani^ 
js,  the  m» 
[d,  in  coinij 
unacquaitl 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      1 1 1 

with  it,  and  obliged  to  put  a  confidence  in  this  guide,  whose 
head  must  have  been  astray  from  the  beginning,  or  he 
could  not  so  grossly  have  mistaken  a  place  where  he  had 
so  often  been.  This  information  but  added  to  our  distress, 
until  we  reflected  that  our  not  being  entirely  lost  was  the 
more  wonderful.  That  we  had  parted  from  South  Bay  on 
the  14th,  was  a  point  with  us  beyond  all  doubt,  and 
about  which  we  never  once  hesitated,  so  that  we  acted 
entirely  contrary  to  what  we  had  established  as  a  truth  ; 
for  if,  according  to  that,  we  had  continued  our  course  to 
the  west,  we  must  inevitably  have  perished  ;  but  the  hand 
of  Providence  led  us  back  contrary  to  our  judgment  ;  and 
though  even  then,  and  often  afterwards,  we  thought  it 
severe,  yet  in  the  end  it  saved  us,  and  obliged  us  to  rest 
[satisfied  that  we  construed  many  things  unfortunate,  which 
tended  to  our  preservation.  I  am,  &c.' 

Upon  my  return  from  the  late  unfortunate  scout,  I  was 
rdered  to  Albany  to  recruit  my  companies,  where  I  met 
ith  a  very  friendly  reception  from  my  Lord  How,  who 
ivanced  me  cash  to  recruit  the  Rangers,  and  gave  me 
ave  to  wait  upon  General  Abercrombie  at  New  York, 
ho  had  now  succeeded  my  Lord  Loudoun  in  the  chief 
3mmand,  my  Lord  being  at  this  time  about  to  embark  for 
ngland.  I  here  received  a  commission  from  the  General, 
t  which  the  following  is  a  copy  : 

"  By  his  Excellency  James  Abercromby,  Esq  -,  Colonel 
his  Majesty's  44th  Regiment  of  Foot,  Colonel  in  Chief 
the  60th  or  Royal  American  Regiment,  Major  General 
d  Commander  in  Chief  of  all  his  Majesty's  Forces 
sed  or  to  be  raised  in  North  America,  &c. 

"  Whereas  it   may   be  of  great   use   to   his   Majes.y's 

vice  in  the  operations  now  carrying  on    for  recovering 

rights  in  America,  to  have  a  number  of  men  employed 

obtaining   intelligence  of  the  strength,    situation,  and 

11 


fi 


■Vv 


Si 
I 


112     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

motions  of  the  enemy,  as  well  as  other  services,  for  which 
Rangers,  or  men  acquainted  with  the  woods,  only  are  tit : 
Having  the  greatest  confidence  in  your  loyalty,  courage 
and  skill  in  this  kind  of  service,  I  do,  by  virtue  of  the  power 
and  authority  to  me  given  by  his  Majesty,  hereby  consti- 
tute and  appoint  you  to  be  Major  of  the  Rangers  in  his 
Majesty's  service,  and  likewise  Captain  of  a  company  of 
said  Rangers.  You  are  therefore  to  take  the  said  Rangers 
as  Major,  and  the  said  Company  as  Captain,  into  your 
care  and  charge,  and  duly  exercise  and  instruct,  as  well 
the  officers  as  the  soldiers  thereof,  in  arms,  and  to  use 
your  best  endeavors  to  keep  them  in  good  order  and  dis- 
cipline \  and  I  do  hereby  command  them  to  obey  you  as 
their  Major  and  Captain  respectively,  and  you  are  to  follow 
and  observe  such  orders  and  directions  from  time  to  time 
as  you  shall  receive  from  his  Majesty,  myself,  or  any  other 
superior  officer,  according  to  the  rules  and  discipline  of 
war. 

Given  at  New  York,  this  6th  Day  of  April  17^8,  in 
the  thirty-first  Year  of  the  reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord 
George  the  Second,  by  the  Grace  of  God,  King  of  Grtat 
Britain,  France  and  Ireland,  Defender  of  the  Faith,  &c. 

James  Abercrombv. 
By  his  Excellency's  command, 

J.  Appy.*' 

I  left  New   York  April  8,  and  according  to  orders  at- 
tended  Lord   How  at   Albany,  for  his  directions,  on  tkj 
1 2th,  with  whom  I  had  a  most  agreeable  interview,  andi 
long  conversation  concerning  the  methods  of  distressind 
the  enemy,  and  prosecuting  the  war  with  vigor  the  ensiiinjl 
campaign.     I  parted   with  him,   having  the  strongest  at- 
surances  of  his  friendship  and  influence  in   my  behall,i> 
wait   upon  Colonel   Grant,  commanding   officer  at  Fonl 


.'d,- 


journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     1 1 3 

Edward,  to  assist  him  in  conducting  the  Rangers,  and 
scouting  parties,  in  such  a  manner  as  might  best  serve  the 
common  cause,  having  a  letter  from  my  Lord  to  him. 
Capt.  Stark  was  immediate!)'  dispatched  to  Ticonderoga 
on  the  west-side  of  Lake  George,  Capt.  Jacob,  whose 
Indian  name  was  Nawnawapeteoonks,  on  the  east-side,  and 
Capt.  Shepherd  betwixt  the  lakes,  with  directions  to  take 
if  possible  some  prisoners  near  Carillon.  About  the  same 
time  I  marched  myself  with  eighteen  men  for  Crown 
Point.  Capt.  Burbank  was  likewise  dispatched  in  quest  of 
prisoners.  These  scouts,  being  often  relieved,  were  kept 
out  pretty  constantly,  in  order  to  discover  any  parties  of 
the  enemy  that  might  sally  out  towards  our  forts  or  frontiers, 
and  to  reconnoitre  their  situation  and  motions  from  time 
to  time.     The  success  of  mv  own  scout  was  as  follows  : 

April  29,  1758,  I  marched  from  Fort  Edward  with  a 
party  of  eighteen  men,  up  the  road  that  leads  to  Fort 
William  Henry  four  miles,  then  north  four  miles,  and  en- 
camped at   Schoon   Creek,  it   having  been  a   very    rainy 

day. 

On  the  30th  we  marched  north-and-by-east  all  day,  and 
encamped  near  South-Bay. 

The  ist  of  May  we  continued  the  same  course,  and 
at  night  encamped  near  the  narrows,  north  of  South-Bay. 

The  2d,  in  the  morning,  made  a  raft,  and  crossed  the 
bay  over  to  the  east-side,  and  having  distanced  the  Izke 
about  four  miles  we  encamped. 

The  3d  we  steered  our  course  north,  and  lay  at  night 
about  three  miles  from  Carillon. 

The  4th  we  marched  north-by-t  ast  all  day,  and  en- 
camped at  night  three  miles  from  Crown  Toint  Fort. 

The    5th  we    killed   one    Frenchman,  and    took  three 

prisoners. 


w 


1 1 4     yourna/s  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

The  6th,  in  the  morning,  began  our  return  homeward, 
and  arrived  with  our  prisoners  at  Fort  Edward  the  9th. 

One  of  the  prisoners,  who  appeared  to  be  the  most  in- 
telligible, reported,  "  that  he  was  born  at  Lorrain  in  France; 
that  he  had  been  in  Canada  eight  years,  viz.  two  at  Quebec, 
one  at  Montreal,  and  five  at  Crown  Point  ;  that  at  the 
latter  were  but  200  soldiers,  of  which  Mons.  le  Janong 
was  commander  in  chief;  that  at  Ticonderoga  there  were 
400  of  the  Queen's  regiment,  150  marines,  200  Canadians, 
and  about  700  Indians  ;  and  that  they  daily  expected  300 
Indians  more ;  that  they  did  not  intend  to  attack  our  forts 
this  summer,  but  were  preparing  to  receive  us  at  Ticon- 
deroga ;  that  they  had  heard  that  I,  with  most  of  my  party, 
was  killed  in  the  conflict  last  March;  but  afterwards,  by  j 
some  prisoners  which  a  small  party  of  their  Indians  ha 
taken  from  Dutch  Hoosyk,  they  were  informed  that  Rogers  1 
was  yet  alive,  and  was  going  to  attack  them  again,  beinj 
fully  resolved  to  revenge  the  inhumanity  and  barbarity  witij 
which  they  had  used  his  men,  in  particular  Lieut.  Philips 
and  his  party,  who  were  butchered  by  them,  after  theyliaij 
promised  them  quarters  ;  that  this  was  talked  of  zmowif 
the  Indians,  who  greatly  blamed  the  French  for  encouraEJ 
ing  them  so  to  do." 

Captains  Stark  and  Jacob  returned  the  day  before  me 
the  former  brought  in  with  him  six  prisoners,  four  of  whica 
he  took  near  Ticonderoga  ;  they  having  escaped  fiom  Neif 
York  and  Albany,  were  in  their  flight  to  the  French  forti 
The  latter,  who  had  but  one  white   man   with  him,  ad 
eighteen  Indians,  took  ten  prisoners,  and  seven  scalps,  oij 
of  a  party  of  fifty  French.     An  account  of  these  scout^ 
and  the   intelligence  thereby   gained,  was  transmitted 
my  Lord  How,  and  by  him  to  the  General. 


journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,      1 1 5 

About  the  middle  of  May,  the  flag  of  truce  was  sent  to 
Ticonderoga,  on  Col.  Schyler's  account,  which  put  a  stop 
to  all  oflFensive  scouts,  till  its  return. 

May  28,  1758,  I  received  positive  orders  from  the 
[General,  to  order  all  officers  and  men,  belonging  to  the 
Rangers,  and  the  two  Indian  companies,  who  Vr'ere  on 
Ifurlow,  or  recruiting  parties,  to  join  their  respective  com- 
Ipanies  as  soon  as  possible,  and  that  every  man  of  the  corps 
[under  my  command  should  be  at  his  post  at  or  before  the 
lioth  of  next  month.  These  orders  were  obeyed,  and  par- 
ties kept  out  on  various  scouts  till  the  8th  of  June,  when 
ly  Lord  How  arrived  at  Fort  Edward  with  one-half  of 
^he  army. 

His  Luidiiiiip  immediately  ordered  me  out  with  fifty  men 
wiialf  boats,  which  were  carried  over  in  waggons  to 
^alce  George,  and  directed  me  at  all  events  to  take  a  plan 
the  landing-place  at  the  north-end  with  all  possible  accu- 
»cy,  and  also  of  the  ground  from  the  landing-place  to  the 
[rench  fort  at  Carillon,  and  of  Lake  Champlain  for  three 
liles  beyond  it,  and  to  discover  the  enemy's  number  in 
pat  quarter.  Agreeable  to  these  orders,  on  the  I2th  in 
it  niuining,  I  marched  with  a  party  of  fifty  men,  and  en- 
kmped  in  the  evening  at  the  place  where  Fort  William- 
lenry  stood. 

I  On  the  30th  we  proceeded  down  the  lake  in  five  whale- 
its  to  the  first  narrows,  and  so  on  to  the  west-end  of  the 
lake,  where  I  tock  the  plan  his  Lordship  desired.     Part 
my  party  th  n   proteef^  d  to  reconnoitre  Ticonderoga, 
discovered   a   las^e   encampment    there,  and   a  great 
[triber  of  Indiar  s.     VV  ille  I  was,  with  two  or  three  others, 
ing  a  plan  of  the  fort,  encampment,  &c.  I   left  the  re- 
Inder  ot  my  party  at  some  considerable  distance  ;  when 
l^as  returning  to  them,  at  the  distance  of  about  300  yards, 
were  fallen  upon  by  a  superior  number  of  the  enemy 


m 


A 


1; 


1 1 6     ^Journals  of  Major  'Robert  Rogers. 


who  had  got  between  me  and  them.  Capt,  Jacobs,  with  the 
Mohegon  Indians,  run  off  at  the  first  onset,  calling  to  our 
people  to  run  likewise  ;  but  they  stood  their  ground,  and  dis- 
charged their  pieces  several  times  at  last  broke  through  the 
enemy,  by  whom  they  were  surrounded  on  all  sides  except 
their  rear,  where  a  river  covered  them  ;  they  killed  three 
of  the  enemy,  but  lost  eight  of  their  own  party  in  this 
skirmish.  My  party  rallied  at  the  boats,  where  I  joined 
them,  and  having  collected  all  but  the  slain  together,  we 
returned  homewards.  On  the  20th,  at  Half  Way  brook, 
we  met  my  Lor.  ITowe  advanced  with  three  thousand  men, 
to  whom  I  gave  a  ":ount  of  my  scour,  together  with  2 
plan  of  the  laridin-  iace,  the  fort  at  Carillon,  and  the 
situation  of  the  lakes. 

I  obtained  leave  of  my  Lord  to  go  to  Fort  Edwarr'  vvhere  1 
his  Excellency  Major  General  Abercrombie  was  then 
posted,  who  ordered  me  to  join  my  Lord  Howe  the  nexi 
day  with  all  the  Rangers,  being  600,  in  order  to  pioceccj 
with  his  Lordship  to  the  lake. 

On  the  22d  his  Lordship  encamped  at  the  lake  whertj 
formerly  stood  Fort  William-Henry,'  and  ordered 
Rangers  to  advance  400  yards  on  the  west  side,  and  eni 
camp  there  ;  from  which  place,  by  his  Lordship's  orderJ 
I  sent  off  next  morning  three  small  parties  of  Rangers.  viJ 
one  to  the  narrows  of  South  Bay,  another  to  the  v^est-sicf 
of  Lake  George,  and  a  third  to  Ticonderoga  Fort,  ail  thrd 


■  Fort  William  Henry  was  captured  by  General  Montcalm,  August  7,  i' 
through  the  cowardice  of  General  Daniel  Wells  then  stationed  at  Fort  Eii»rJ 
who  with  a  large  army  at  hand,  ^efjsed  to  send  succor  to  Colonel  Munri)    II 
horrible  massacre  that  followed  this  surrender,  presents  the  blackest  pi:!! 
our  colonial    history.       It  was  estimated   by  Carver,   the   traveller,  wh; 
present,  that  fifteen  hundred  persons  were  killed  upon  this  occasion,  or  cim 
into  a  captivity  scarcely  preferable  to  death. 

Fort  William   Henry  was  named  by  Gen.   Johnson   ir    honor  of  W;l 
Hen-y,  Duke  of  Cumberland,  brother  of  the  heir  apparent,  George  the  Tj 


witb  the 
jg  to  Our 
1,  and  (lis- 
rough  the 
.es  e;<eept 
Ued  three 
-ty  in  this 
e  I  joined 
gether,  we 
/ay  brook, 
isand  men, 
[her  with  i 
n,   and  the 

ward  vvherel 
;    was  then 
ve  the  next  I 
f   to  pvoceecl 

lake  wheit! 
ordered  tli!] 
iide,  and  e& 

Zip's  ordenj 

angers.  v!i  I 
[the  west-sic!l 

ort,allthit[ 


August  7,  i''| 

at  Fort  Ei*"! 

tel  Munro.  If 

blackest  p»;<j 

laveUer,  who 

ccasion,  "t  "^ 

konor  of  Wit 
JeorgetheTJ 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      1 17 

received  directions  from  Capt.  Abercrombie,  one  of  his 
Aids  de  Camp,  to  gain  the  top  of  a  mountain  that  bore 
north  about  a  mi'.e  from  the  landing-place,  and  from  thence 
to  steer  east  to  the  river  that  runs  into  the  falls  betwixt  the 
landing  and  the  saw-mill,  to  take  possession  of  some  rising 
ground  on  the  enemy's  side,  and  there  to  wait  the  army's 
coming.  I  immediately  marched,  ascended  the  top  of  the 
hill,  and  from  thence  marched  to  the  place  I  was  ordered, 
where  I  arrived  in  about  an  hour,  and  posted  my  party  to 
as  good  advantage  as  I  could,  being  within  one  quarter  of 
a  mile  of  where  Mons.  iMontcalm  was  posted  with  1500 
[men,  whom  I  had  discovered  by  some  small  reconnoitring 
parties  sent  out  for  that  purpose.  About  twelve  o'clock 
[Colonels  Lyman  and  Fitch  of  the  Provincials  came  to  my 
[rear,  whom  I  informed  of  the  enemy's  bemg  so  very  near 
land  inquiring  concerning  the  army,  they  told  me  they  were 
coming  along.  While  this  conversation  passed,  a  sharp 
ire  began  in  the  rear  of  Col,  Lyman's  regiment,  on  which 
it  said  he  would  make  his  front  immediately,  and  desired 
le  to  fall  on  their  left  flank,  which  I  accordingly  did, 
|)aving  first  ordered  Capt.  Burbanks'  with  150  men  to 
:main  at  the  place  where  I  was  posted,  to  observe  the 
lotions  of  the  French  at  the  saw-mills,  and  went  with  the 
jmainder  of  the  Rangers  on  the  left  flank  of  the  enemy, 
le  liver  being  on  their  right,  and  killed  se'  eral.  By  this 
my  Lord  Howe,  with  a  detachment  from  his  front, 
id  broke  the  enemy,  and  hemmed  them  in  on  every  side; 
It  advancing  himself  with  great  eagerness  and  intrepidity 


'Capt.  Jonathan  Burbank  was  scalped  by  an  Indian,  who  held  up  the  trophy, 
llkint;  it  to  be  that  of  Major  Rogers.  When  told  of  his  mistake  by  the 
pr  prisoners,  he  appe;trcd  to  be  sorry,  saying  that  he  was  a  good  man.  He 
I  Slime  time  previously  shown  some  of  them  a  kindness. — !itaik\  Memoirs, 
I;  Farmer's  Moore's  Hist.  Co//,,  i,  286  j  Drake^  Fi-ve  Tears'  French  and 
tn  ff^ar,  8,  9a. 


i 
I 

;. 

'■■    ■■ 

\ 

\ 

1 1 8     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


parties  by  land.  Another  party,  consisting  of  two  Lieu- 
tenants and  seventeen  men,  proceeded  down  the  lake  for 
discoveries,  and  were  all  made  prisoners  by  about  300 
French  and  Indians.    This  party  embarked  in  whale-boats. 

About  the  28th  of  June  his  Excellency  Major  General 
Abercrombie  arrived  at  the  lake  with  the  remainder  of  the 
army,  where  he  tarried  till  the  morning  of  the  5th  of  July, 
and  then  the  whole  army,  consisting  of  near  16,000,  em- 
barked in  battoes  for  Ticonderoga. 

The  order  of  march  was  a  mos't  agreeable  sight ;  the 
regular  troops  were  in  the  center,  provincials  on  each  wing, 
the  light  infantry  on  the  right  of  the  advanced  guard,  the 
Rangers  on  the  left  with  Colonel  Broadstreet's  battoemen 
in  the  center.     In  this  manner  we   proceeded,  till  dusk, 
down  Lake  George,  to  Sabbath  Day  Point,  where  thearmv 
halted  and  ref't>heH      About  ten  o'clock  the  army  moveiij 
again,  when   my  Lord   How  went   in   the  front  with  his 
whale-boat.  Lieutenant  Col.   Broadstreet's  and  mine,  withj 
Lieutenant  Holmes,   in  another,   whom   he  sent   forward 
to  go  near  the  landing-place,  and  observe  if  any  enemy  wasi 
posted  there. 

Holmes  returned  about  day-break,  met  the  army  ncaij 
the  Blue  Mountains  within  four  miles  of  the  landing  placff 
and  reported  that  there  was  a  party  of  the  enemy  at  tlitj 
landing-place,  which  he  discovered  by  their  fires. 

As  soon  as  it  was  light  his  Lordship,  with  Col.  BroaiJ 
street  and  myself,  went  down  to  observe  the  landing  placi 
before  the  army,  and  when  within  about  a  quarter  of  a  miiij 
plainly  discerned  that  it  was  but  a  small  detachment  of 
enemy  that  was   there  ;  whereupon  his   Lordship  said 
would  return  to  the  General,  that  the  armv  might  landau 
march  to  Ticontieroga.     About  twelve  o'clock   the  whai 
army  landed,  the  Rangers  on  the  left  wing.     I  immediaii 
sent  an  officer  to  wait  upon  the  General  for  his  orders, 


tttMHi 


I   Lieu- 
lake  for 
lUt   300 
ie-boats. 
General 
;r  of  the 
of  July, 
000,  em- 

ight  •,  the 
ach  wing, 
juard,  the 
battoemen 

till  dusk, 
e  the  army 
■my  moved! 
,t  with  his  I 
.mine,  Willi  I 
|nt  forwaiill 

enemy  wasj 

army  ^^A 
ding-place,! 

lemy  at  m 

is 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.  1 1 8^ 

received  directions  from  Capt.  Abercombie  one  of  his 
Aids  de  Camp,  to  gain  the  top  of  a  mountain  that  bore 
north  about  a  mile  from  the  landing  place,  and  from  thence 
to  steer  east  to  the  river  that  runs  into  the  falls  betwixt  the 
landing  and  the  saw  mill,  to  take  possession  of  some  rising 
ground  on  the  enemy's  side,  and  there  wait  the  army's 
coming.  I  immediately  marched  to  the  place  I  was  or- 
dered, where  T  arrived  in  about  an  hour,  and  posted  my 
party  to  as  good  advantage  as  I  could,  being  within,  one- 
quarter  of  a  mile  of  where  Mons.  Montcalm  was  posted 
with  1.500  men,  whom  I  had  discovered,  by  some  small 
reconnoitering  parties  sent  out  for  that  purpose.  About 
twelve  o'clock,  Colonels  Lyman  and  Fitch  of  the  Pro- 
vincials came  to  mv  rear,  whom  I  informed  of  the  enemy's 
being  so  very  near,  and  inquiring  concerning  the  army, 
ithey  told  me  were  coming  along.  While  this  conversation 
[passed,  a  sharp  fire  began  in  the  rear  of  Col.  Lyman's 
[Regiment,  on  which  he  said  he  would  make  his  front  im- 
Imediately,  and  desired  me  to  fall  on  his  left  flank,  which  1 
laccoidingly  did,  having  first  ordered  Capt.  Burbanks  with 
)ne  hundred  and  fifty  men  to  remain  at  the  place  where 
was  posted,  to  observe  the  movement  of  the  French  at 
le  Saw  Mills,  and  went  with  the  remainder  of  the 
Lingers  on  the  left  flank  of  the  enemy,  the  river  being 
their    right,    and   killed    several.*      By    this    time    my 


I*  The  map  in  Mante's  History,  showing  the  plan  of  attack  at  Ticonderoga 
iresents  the  position  of  the  Rangers  as  described  in  the  text.  They  were  on 
I  extreme  left  of  the  English  line,  and  in  front  of  the  French  regiments  of 
tn  and    La  Reine.      The  firinf    in   the  rear,    was  probably   by  the  party  of 


I 

1! 


1 1 S6  Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

Lord  Howe,  with  a  detachment  from  his  front,  had 
broke  the  enemy  and  hemmed  them  on  every  side;  but 
advancing    himself   with    great    eagerness    and    intrepidity 


M.  de  Trepesec,  which  got    separated  from    their  main  body,  and  were  nearly 
all  killed  or  captured. 


The  French  had  stationed  three  regiments  under  M.  de  Boulamarque  at  the 
foot  of  Lake  George,  to  prevent  if  possible  the  English  from  landing  j  but 
finding  it  impossible  to  do  this,  they  hastily  destroyed  their  camp  and 
retreated. 

M.  de  Montcalm  in  reporting  an  account  of  the  battle,  after  speaking  of 
this  withdrawal  of  the  French  from  the  portage,  says  ; 

"  This  retreat  would  have  been  eft'ectcd  without  the  loss  of  a  man,  had  not 
M.  de  Trepesec's  detachment  gone  astray;  abandoned  by  the  s.nall  number  ot  I 
Indians  which  acted  as  guide.<!,  it  lost  itself  in  the  mountains  covered  with  treei 
and  after  a   march  of  twelve   hours,    fell    into  an  English  Column   which  wjj 
marching  towards  the  river  of  the  Falls.      Six   officers,  and    about   a   hundrcH 
and  fifty  soldiers  belonging  to  that  detachment,  have  been  taken;  they  fou;iiil 
for  a  long  time  but  were  obliged  to   yield  tu  numbers.     The   English  onthiij 
occasion,  suffered  a  considerable  loss  in  the  person  of  Brigadier   General  Lor: 
Howe  of  their  army,  the  colonel  of  one  of  the  regiments  from  Old  England."- 
N.  T.  Colonial  Hist.  Vol.  x.  p.   737. 

The  line  of  French*  breastworks  defended  by  the  French  in  this  battle  uij 
(till  be  traced  without  difficulty. 


I       I 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      1 1 9 

upon  them,  was  unfortunately  shot  and  died  immediately.* 
There  were  taken  prisoners  of  the  enemy  in  this   action, 
five  officers,  two   volunteers,  and   one  hundred  and   sixty 
men,  who  were  sent  to  the  landing-place.     Nothing  more 
material  was  done  this  day.     The  next   morning,  at   six 
o'clock,  I  was  ordered  to  march  to  the  river  that  runs  into 
the  falls,  the  place  where  I  was  the  day  before,  and   there 
to  halt  on  the  west  side  till  further  orders,  with  four  hun- 
dred Rangers,  while  Captain  Stark,  with  the  remainder  of 
the  Rangers,   marched  with  Capt.   Abercrombie  and  Mr. 
Clerk  the  Engineer  to  observe  the  position  of  the  enemy 
at  the  fort,  from  whence  they  returned  again  that  evening. 
The  whole  army  lay  the  ensuing  night  under  arms.     By 
sunrise  next  morning,  Sir  William  Johnson  joined  the  army 
with  four  hundred  and  forty  Indians.     At  seven  o'clock  I 
received  orders  to  march  with  my  Rangers.     A  Lieutenant 
of  Captain  Stark's  led  the  advance  guard.     I  was  within 
about  three  hundred  yards  of  the  breast-work,  when  my 
advance  guard  was  ambushed  and  fired  upon  by  about  200 
Frenchmen.     I  immediately  formed  a  front  and  marched 
up  to  the  advanced  guard,  who  maintained   their  ground, 
and  the   enemy    immediately    retreated  ;    soon    after    the 
battoe-men  formed  on  my  left  and   light   infantry  on  my 


*  This  noble  and  brave  officer  being  universally  beloved  by  both  officers  and 
lloldiers  of  the  army,  his  fall  was  not  only  most  sincerely  lamented,  but  seemed 
[to  iiroduce  an  almost  general  consternation  and  languor  through  the  whole. 

The  remains  of  Lord  Howe  were  taken  to  Albany  and  buried  under  the 
jEnglish  church,  In  1802  :'he  church  was  rebuilt,  and  it  is  probable  that  they 
Iwere  then  removed  to  England,  as  no  traces  of  them  were  found  in  a  second 
ebuilding  of  St,  Peter's  church  in  1859.  A  monument  was  erected  to  his 
nemory  in  Westminster  Hall  at  the  expense  of  the  province  of  Massachusetts, 
ord  Viscount  George  Augustus  Howe  was  a  brother  of  Major  General  Sir 
i^illiam  Howe,  and  Admiral  Richard  Howe,  of  the  British  army  and  navy 
Dgaged  in  America  during  the  Revolutionary  war. 

— Note  by  the  Author, 

12 


1 20     Journa/s  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

right.     This  fire  of  the  enemy  did   not  kill   a  single  man. 
Soon  after,  three   regiments  of  Provincials  came   up  and 
formed  in  my  rear,  at  two  hundred  yards  distance.    While 
the  army  was  thus  forming,  a  scattering  fire  was   kept  up 
between  our  flying  parties  and  those  of  the  enemy  without 
the  breast-work.     About  half  an  hour  past  ten,  the  greatest 
part  of  the  army  being  drawn  up,  a  smart  fire  began  on  the 
left  wing,  where  Col.  De  Lancey's,   (the  New  Yorkers,) 
and  the  battoe-men  were  posted,  upon  which  I  was  ordered 
forward  to  endeavour  to  beat  the  enemy  within  the  breast- 
work, and  then  to  fall  down,  that  the  pickets  and  grenadiers 
might  march   through.      The  enemy  soon  retired  within 
their    works  ;    Major    Proby   marched    through    with   his 
pickets  within  a  few  yards   of  the  breast-work,  where  he 
unhappily  fell,  and  the  enemy  keeping  up  a  heavy  fire,  the 
soldiers  hastened  to  the  right  about,  when  Col.  Haldiman 
came  up  with  the  grenadiers  to  support  them,  being  followed 
by  the  battalions  in  brigades  for  their  support.     Col.  Hal- 
diman advanced  very  near  the  breast-work,  which  was  at 
least  eight   feet  high  ;  some  of  the  Provincials  with  the 
Mohocks  came  up  also.* 

We  toiled  with   repeated   attacks  for   four  hours,  being! 
greatly  embarrassed  by  trees  that  were  felled  by  the  enemv 
without  their  breast- work,  when  the  General  thought  proper 
to  order  a  retreat,  directing  me  to  bring  up  the  rear,  whicH 
I  did   in  the  dusk  of  the   evening.     On  the  ninth  in  tliel 
evening,  we  arrived  at  our  encampment  at  the  south-endl 
of  Lake  George,  where  the  army  received  the  thanks  of  thel 
General  for  their  good  behaviour,  and  were  ordered  to  enj 


*  This  attack  was  begun  before  the  General  intended  it  should  be,  and  astl 
were  by  accident,  from  tjie  fire  of  the  New  Yorkers  in  the  left  wing ;  uf*| 
which  Col.  Haviland  being  in  or  near  the  center,  ordered  the  troops  toiij 
vance. 

— Note  by  the  Author. 


le  man. 
up  and 

While 
kept  up 
without 

greatest 
n  on  the 
forkers,) 
5  ordered  I 
le  breast- 
rrenadiers 
ed  within 

with  his 
where  he 
y  fire,  the 

Haldiman 
icr  followed 

Col.  Hal- 
ich  was  at 
with  the 

ours,  beinj 
the  enemvl 
jght  proper  I 
•ear,  whiclil 
[nth  in  thel 
p  south-enil 
anks  of  m 
lered  to  enl 


Id  be,  and  as  tl 

eft  wing  i  "f*'l 
-   troops  wall 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      1 2 1 

tren^ih  themselves  ;  the  wounded  were  sent  to  Fort  Edward 
and  Albany.  Our  loss  both  in  the  regular  and  provincial 
troops,  was  somewhat  considerable.  The  enemy's  loss 
was  about  five  hundred,  besides  those  who  were  taken 
prisoners. 

July  8,  1758.  By  order  of  the  General,  I  this  day  began 
a  scout  to  South  Bay,  from  which  I  returned  the  i6th, 
having  effected  nothing  considerable,  except  discovering  a 
large  party  of  the  enemy,  supposed  to  be  near  a  thousand, 
on  the  east-side  of  the  lake.  This  party  the  next  day, 
viz.  the  17th,  fell  upon  a  detachment  of  Col.  Nicholls's 
Regiment  at  the  half-way  brook,  killed  three  Captains,  and 
upwards  of  twenty  private  men. 

The  27th  another  party  of  the  enemy  fell  upon  a  convoy 
of  waggoners  between  Fort  Edward  and  Half- Way  Brook, 
and  killed  116  men,  sixteen  of  which  were  Rangers.  In 
pursuit  of  this  party,  with  a  design  to  intercept  their  retreat, 
I  was  ordered  to  embark  the  i8th  with  700  men;  the 
enemy  however  escaped  me,  and  in  my  return  home  on  the 
31st,  I  was  met  by  an  express  from  the  General,  with 
orders  to  march  with  700  men  to  South  and  East  Bay, 
and  return  by  way  of  Fort  Edward,*  in  the  prosecution 
ot  which  orders  nothing  very  material  happened  till  the  8t^' 
of  August  ;  in  our  return,  early  in  the  morning  of  which 
[day  we  decamped  from  the  place  where  Fort  Anne  stood, 
and  began  our  march,  Major  Putnam  with  a  party  of  Pro- 


*  Pouchots'  account  of  this  affair  is  as  follows : 

"The  English  on  their  part,  labored  to  form  an  entrenched  camp.  A  party 
|under  M.  Marin,  a  Colonial  Captain,  encountered  a  body  of  their  troops  com- 
posed of  seven  or  eight  hundred  men,  and  commanded  by  Rogers,  M.  Marin 
oolc  prisoner  a  major  of  militia  from  Old  England,  with  some  others,  and 
00k  only  two  scalps.  The  loss  of  the  English  was  estimated  at  one  hundred 
Den,  while  the  French  had  four  Indians  killed  and  four  wounded,  and  six 
Danadiaiis  killed  and  six  wounded,  among  whom  was  an  officer  and  a  cadet." 

— Memoirs,  i,  laj. 


1 22     journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


vincials  marching  in  the  front,  my  Rangers  in  the  rear, 
Capt.  Dalyell*  with  the  regulars  in  the  center,  the  other 
officers  suitably  disposed  among  the  men,  being  in  number 
530,  exclusive  of  officers  (a  number  having  by  leave  re- 
turned home  the  day  before).  After  marching  about  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile,  a  fire  begun  with  five  hundred  of  the 
enemy  in  the  front ;  I  brought  my  people  into  as  good 
order  as  possible,  Capt.  Dalyell  in  the  center,  and  the 
Rangers  on  the  right,  with  Col,  Partridge's  light  infantry; 
on  the  left  was  Capt.  Gidding's  of  the  Boston  troops  with 
his  people,  and  Major  Putnam  being  in  the  front  of  his 
men  when  the  fire  began,  the  enemy  rushing  in,  took  him, 
one  Lieutenant,  and  two  others,  prisoners,  and  considerably 
disordered  others  of  the  party,  who  afterwards  rallied  and 
did  good  service,  particularly  Lieutenant  Durkee,t  who 
notwithstanding  two  wounds,  one  in  his  thigh,  the  other 
in  his  wrist,  kept  in  the  action  the  whole  time,  encouraging 
his  men  with  great  earnestness  and  resolution.  Capt. 
Dalyell  with  Gage's  light  infantry,  and  Lieut.  Eyers  of  the 


*James  Dalyell  (sometimes  written  Dahell,  served  as  a  lieutenant  in  tht 
60th  Regiment,  .ind  afterwards  as  a  captain  in  the  2d  Battalion  of  the  Rcyalt, 
or  1st  Regiment  of  foot.  He  perished  in  a  brave  but  indiscreet  attack  upon 
the  Indian  enemy  near  Detroit,  in  1763. 

— See  Carver's  Travels,  p.  1 63. 
M.  De  Courgne,  in  writing  from  Niagara,  Aug.  24,   says,  in  speaking  of  th«  | 
.sortie  in  which  Major  Rogers  was  engaged  : 

"About  fifteen  men,  with  Major  Rogers,  got  in  a  house,  who  was  to  briDjj 
up  the  rear  and   cover  the  retreat,  which   soon  was  surrounded  by  the  Indians, 
and  had  no  other  way  to  get  clear  of  them  but  by  showing  them  a  clean  paii  I 
of  heels,  which  he  and  a  corporal  of  the  55th  had  a  fair  tryal  for,  and  gotsaitl 
into  the  fort. 

— yohnson  MSH.,  vii,  126. 


^^^f  Lieut.  Robert  Durtfee,  served  with  distinction  through  the  war,  and  ifttrl 
wards  settled  in  the  Valley  of  Wyoming,  where  he  wax  slain  in  battle,  Jul! I 
3,  »778. 


!        1 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,      123 


44th  regiment,  behaved  with  great  bravery,  they  being  in 
the  center,  where  was  at  first  the  hottest  fire,  which  after- 
wards fell  to  the  right  where  the  Rangers  were,  and  where 
the  ciiemv  made  four  different  attacks;  in  short,  officers 
and  soldiers  throughout  the  detachment  behaved  with  such 
v!  ind  resolution,   as   in  one  hour's  time   broke   the 

eiicuiy,  and  obliged  them  to  retreat,  which  they  did  with 
such  caution  in  small  scattering  parties,  as  gave  us  no 
opportunity  to  distress  them  by  a  pursuit  ;  we  kept  the 
field  and  buried  our  dead.*  When  the  action  was  over, 
we  had  missing  fifty-four  men,  twenty-one  of  which  after- 
wards came  in,  being  separated  from  us  while  the  action 
continued.  The  enemy's  loss  was  199  killed  on  the  spot, 
[Several  of  which  were  Indians. f  We  arrived  at  Fort 
[Edward  on  the  9th,  being  met  at  some  distance  from  it  by 
Col.  Provost,  with  a  party  of  300,  and  refreshuients  for 
Ithe  wounded,  which  I  had  desired  by  an  express  sent 
Ibefore. 

I       lained  at  Fort  Edward  till  the  i  ith  of  the  month, 

Iwh  eceived  orders  from  Col.  Provost,  who  now  ranked 

|as  tii.gadier,  and  commanded  at  Fort  Edward,  to  march 

md  pursue  the  tracks  of  a  large  party  of  Indians,  of  which 

ae  had  received  intelligence,  down  the  east-side  of  Hudson's 

Liver,  in  order  to  secure  our  convoys  from  them,  and  in- 

Jercept  their    retreat ;  but   this   report  which  the  Colonel 

iad  heard  being  groundless,  my  scout  was  ineffectual.      I 

Returned  to  Fort  Edward  on  the  14th,  and  went  with  ray 

jhment  directly  to  the  encampment  at  Lake  George. 

*A  French  account  of  this  engagement  is  given  in  a  letter  from  M.  Doreil 
Marshal  de  Belle  Isle,  dated   Quebec,  August  31,  1758. 

—  N.Y.  Colonial  History,  x,  818. 

By  a  detachment  that  went  out  afterwards,  fifty  more  of  the  en«my  were 
und  dead  near  the  place  of  action. 

— Nott  by  tit  jiatb»r. 


1 24     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers 

Aug.  20,  1758.  By  orders  from  the  General  I  embarked 
with  five  men  in  a  whale-boat,  to  visit  and  reconuiitre 
Ticonderoga,  in  which  excursion  I  obtained  several  article; 
of  intelligence  concerning  the  enemy,  their  situation  and 
numbers  at  different  posts,  and  returned  the  24th  to  the 
encampment  at  Lake  George. 

I  was  employed  in  various  other  excursions  towards  tht 
enemy's  forts  and  frontiers,  and  in  pursuit  of  their  flvin^ 
parties  till  the  campaign  for  this  year  ended,  and  our  armv 
retired  to  winter-quarters. 

Notwithstanding  little  was  effected  by  our  late  campaign! 
to   Ticonderoga  ;  yet  the    British  arms  in   America  were 
not  everywhere  unsuccessful  :  for  Col.  Broadstreet  with  a 
detachment  of   2000    men,    reduced    the   French   fort  at 
Cataraqua,  called  Fort  Frontenac,*  and  General  Amherst, 
who  commanded   the  British  troops  at  Cape    Breton,  hadi 
succeeded  in  the  reduction  of  that  important  fortress,  anjl 
now  returp'-d  from  his  conquest,  with  a  part  of  the  troopsj 
that   had   been   employed   there,  and  was   appointed  comf 
mander  in  chief  of  his  Majesty's  forces  in  North  AmeribI 
(General  Abercrombie  embarking  for  England).     The  heacl 
quarters  were  now  fixed  uc  New  York,  and  I  had  nowne*J 
commanders  to  obey,   new  companions  to  converse  witi 
and,  as   it  were,  a   new  apprenticeship  to   serve.     FroBi 
Albany,  where  1  was  settling  some  accounts  with  the  Pay! 


*  This  fort  was  square   faced,  had  four   bastions    built  with   stone,  and»« 
near  three-quarters  of  a  mile  in  circumfcrante.     Its  situation  was  very  beJu;l^-I 
the  banks  of  the  rixer  presenting  on   every  side  an   agreeable   landscape,  «'JJ 
a  fine  prospect  of  the  Lake  Ontario,  which  was  distant  about  a   leigiic,  in^l 
spersed  with  many  islands  that  were  well  wooded,  and  seemingly  fruit  rul. 
French   had  formerly«a   great  trade  jit   this   fort  with  the    Indians,  it  Ici 
erected  on  purpose  to  prevent   their  trading  with   the  English  ;  but  it  is 
totally  destroyed. 

—  Nott  by  the  Author. 


m 


BB 


MMiUHiiiiliyiMiii 


si^Km 


s 

embarked 
;connoitre 
■al  articles 
jation  and 
^.th  to  th; 

3 wards  tht 
:heir  flying 
1  our  army 

s  campai»r,  I 
lerica  were 
;reet  withal 
ich  fort  at 
i\  AmherstJ 
Breton,  had 
"ortress.  andl 
|f  the  troopil 
nted  com-r 
Ameri'cJl 
The  heat 
ad  nowne»| 
verse  witkl 
ve.     Frcil 
th  the  Pa4 


stone,  jnil '' 
,s  very  beauti^- 
landscape,  *" 
a  Iciguf,  ii'l'' 
y  fruit  lul. 
idians,  it  -=' 
but  it  is 


h 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,      1 25 

master,  I  began  my  acquaintance  by  the  following  letter  to 
Col.  Townsend,  Deputy  Adjutant  General  to  his  Excel- 
llency. 

*'  Sir,  Jlbany^  Jan.  28,  1 759. 

Inclosed  I  send  you  the  present  state  of  his  Majesty's 
Icompanies  of  Rangers  at  Fort  Edward,  together  with  a  list 
[of  the  officers,  now  recruiting  in  the  different  parts  of  New 
JEngiand,  who   have    lately   advised    me,    that  they   have 
ilready  inlisted   near  400  men,  which   recruits   are   much 
i^anted  at  Fort  Edward,   as  it  may  be  expected  that  the 
snemy  will  soon  send  their  Indians,  to  endeavour  to  inter- 
cept our  convoys  between  here  and  Fort  Edward. 

"To  be  seasonably  strong  to  prevent  their  playing  tlieir 
Lid  pranks,    I  would    humbly  propose,  were   it  consistent 
mh  the   service   and   agreeable  to  General  Amherst,  my 
ctting  out  for   New  England,   in  order   to  despatch  such 
Ungers  as  are  there  with  all  possible  speed  to  Fort  Edward, 
otherwise,  as  his  Excellency  shall  direct.      If  \i  should 
agreeable  to  the  General  that  I  should  go  to  New  Eng- 
jiiid,  I  should  be  glad  it  might  be  by  way  of  New  York, 
liat  I  might  have  an  opportunity  to  wait  upon  the  General 
f'seif,  and  represent  to  him  the  necessity  of  an  augmenta- 
)n  of  the  Rangers  now  at  Fort  Edward,  and  the  desire  of 

Stockbridge  Indians  to  re-enter  the  service. 

''The  arms  of  the  Rangers  are   in  the   hands  of   Mr. 

[uniiingham  at  New  York,  which  will  be  soon  wanted  at 

)rt  fldward  ;    I  should   therefore   be  glad  they  might   be 

rwarded  as  soon  as  may  be.      I  have  wrote  to  Mr.  Cun- 

oghatn,  to  make  application  to  you  for  convenient  carriages 

the  same,  which  I   should    be  glad   you  would  furnish 

with.    And  till  the  time  I  have  an  opportunity  of  paying 

my  respects  in  person,  I  beg  leave  to  subscribe  myself, 

Your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Robert  Rogers.'* 


1 26     yournais  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 


"  P.  S.  General  Stanwix   informs  me,  that  a  subaltern 
officer,  and  about  twenty  Rangers,  are  to  be  stationed  at  1 
No.  4  i  the  officer  I  would   recommend  for   that   post,  ij| 
Lieut.   Stephans  who  is  well   acquainted  with  the  countrjj 
thereabout.     He  is  now  recruiting." 

To  Col.  Townsend. 

Soon  after  this  I  returned  to  Fort  Edward,  where  I  r^j 
ceived  the  Colonel's  answer,  as  follows  : 

"  Sir,  Feb.  5.  1759. 

"  I  received  your  letter  with  the  enclosed  ret'  Thtl 

General  commands  me  to  inform  you,  he  can  by  .io  meanjj 
approve  of  your  leaving  tort  Edward. 

"  Your  recruiting  officers  are  all  ordered  to  send  u|| 
their  recruits  to  Fort  Edward.  They  are  not  only  wrottl 
to,  but  an  advertisement  is  put  in  all  the  papers,  whicll 
was  the  only  method  the  General  had  of  conveying  hiiT 
intentions  to  them,  as  you  had  not  sent  me  any  return ( 
the  officers  names,  and  places  where  they  were  to  recrui 
at.  In  obedience  to  that  order,  the  recruits  will  he 
sooner  than  if  they  waited  your  coming  down.  I  hati 
likewise  repeated .  the  order  to  every  officer  according 
your  return,  by  this  post,  and  if  you  are  complete  by  til 
returns  they  make,  I  shall  order  up  every  individual  offict 
to  their  posts. 

"  Any  proposals  for  the  augmentation  of  the  RangersJ 
proposals  from  the  Stockbridgc  Indians,  you  would  chu 
to  offer  to  the  General,  he  desires  may  be  immediately 
down  to  him. 

^'  The  arms  for  the  Rangers,  which  you  mention  are] 
the  hands  of  Mr.  Cunningham,  shall  be  sent  up  to  youi 
mediately. 

*^  I  have  wfote  to  Lieut.  Samuel  Stephans,  to  acqui 
him  with  the  General's  intentions  of  leaving  him  at  Naj 
If  th«  enemy  send  out  any  scouting  parties  this  yearl 


(1 


subaltern 
ationed  at 
It   post,  i»| 
\t  country 


irhere  1  re- 
s' 1759-  . 
t'  Th{l 

)y  JO  mcans| 

to  send  m 
■  only  wrotti 
apers,  whicll 
)nveying  hiif 
iny  return  0 
re  to  recru 
s  will  He 

n.   n*"! 

according  i 
jplete  by  til 
vidual  offici 

,  Rangers,j 
would  CM 
mediately 

lention  arc  I 
|up  to  youfl 


is,  to  acqu* 
lim  at  M^l 
:8  this  ytfj 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      1 27 

pick  up  intelligence,  or  attack  our  convoys,  the  season  of 
the  year  is  now  coming  on  that  we  may  expect  them  ;  you 
therefore  must  see  the  necessity  of  your  remaining  at  Fort 
Edward.  Your  officers  and  men  should  join  you  as  fast  as 
possible.  The  General  would  at  another  time  comply 
with  your  request. 

Your  obedient,  humble  servant, 

R.  Townshendy  D.  A.  G." 

Feb.  15,  1759. 
To  Major  Rogers. 

I  wrote  to  the  Colonel,  proposing  an  addition  of  two 
new  companies  of  Rangers,  upon  '^he  same  footing  as  those 
already  in  the  service,  and  the  raising  of  three  companies 
of  Indians  to  serve  the  ensuing  campaign  ;  and  left  the 
Indians  should  be  gone  out  on  their  hunting  parties,  and  so 
be  prevented  from  joining  us,  I  wrote  to  three  of  their 
Sachems,  or  chiefs  ;  one  of  which  to  King  Uncus,  head 
Sachem  of  the  Mohegan  Indians  (which  in  substance  is 
Hike  the  others)  I  will  here  insert,  as  a  specimen  of  the 
[method  in  which  we  are  obliged  to  address  these  savages. 
"  Brother  Uncus, 

"  As  it  is  for  the  advantage  of  his  Majesty  King  George, 
|to  have  a  lurge  body  of  Rangers  employed  in  his  service 
(he  ensuing  campaign,  and  as  I  am  well  convinced  of  the 
sincere  attachment  you  have  to  him,  I  therefore  carefully 
pbey  General  Amherst's  orders  to  me,  to  engage  your  as- 
listance  here  early  in  the  spring. 

"  I  hope  youMl  contiriue  to  shew  that  ardent  zeal  you 
|>ave  all  along  expressed  for  the    English,  ever  since  you 
lave  been  allied   to  them,  by   raising  a  company  of  your 
ten  with  the  utmost  expedition. 
"  Should  you  chuse   to  come   out  a   Captain,  General 
Amherst  will   readily  give  you   the  commission   for  it  \  if 
18 


128      'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

not,  1  shall  expect  Doquipe  and  Nunnipad.  I  leave  to 
you  the  choice  of  an  Ensign  and  two  Serjeants  ;  but  I  hope 
you'll  engage  the  fittest  men  for  their  stations.  I  would 
have  the  company  consist  of  fifty  private  men,  or  more,  if 
you  can  get  them  ;  and  if  those  men  that  deserted  from 
Capt.  Brewer  will  join  you,  the  General  will  pardon  them. 
You  may  employ  a  Clerk  for  the  company,  to  whom 
General  Amherst  will  allow  the  usual  pay. 

"  I    heartily  .wish    you   success    in    raising  your   men, 
and  shall  be   exceeding  glad  that  you  join  me  with  all  the 
expedition  you  possibly  can.      [  am, 
Brother  Uncus, 
Your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 
To  King  Uncus.  Robert  Rogers." 

With  this  letter,  or  any  other  wrote  to  them,  in  order 
to  give  it  any  credit  or  influence,  must  go  a  belt  of  wam- 
pum, suitable  to  the  matter  and  occasion  of  it,  and  upon 
which  the  bearer,  after  having  read  the  letter,  interprets  it, 
and  then  delivers  both  to  the  Sachem,  or  person  they  are 
directed  to. 

The  latter  end  of  February,  about  fifty  Mohocks,  com- 
manded by  Captain  Lotridge,  came  from  Sir  William 
Johnson  to  join  me,  and  proceed  to  Ticonderoga  on  i 
scout. 

March  3,  1759,1  received  the  following  orders  from 
Col.  Haldiman  :  "  An  officer  being  chosen  by  the  General 
to  make  observations  upon  the  enemy's  situation,  and  the 
strength  of  their  forts  upon  Lake  Champlain,  you  are 
ordered  to  march  with  your  Rangers,  and  the  Mohock 
Indians,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Lotridge,  and  take 
all  the  measures  and  precautions  possible,  that  he  maj 
execute  his  intentfons,  and  perform  the  service,  which  the 
General  has  much  at  heart ;  and  to  effect  this  with  morel 
security,  a  body  of  regulars  is  likewise  ordered  to  join  vm 


I    i 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,      i  29 

you,  and  you  are  to  have  command  of  the  whole.  Lieut. 
Biheem*  is  to  communicate  his  orders  to  you  ;  and  the 
service  being  performed,  you  will  endeavour  to  take  a 
prisoner,  or  prisoners,  or  strike  such  a  stroke  on  the  enemy, 
and  try  to  biing  us  intelligence. 

"  He  recommends  it  in  the  strongest  manner,  that  if 
some  of  the  enemy  should  fall  into  your  hands,  to  prevent 
the  Indians  from  exercising  their  cruelty  upon  them,  as  he 
desires  prisoners  may  be  treated  with  humanity. 

Fred  Haldiman, 
Fort  Edward^  Commander  at 

March  3,  1759.  Fort  Edward** 

Pursuant  to  the  above  orders,  I  marched  the  same  day 
with  a  party  of  358  men,  officers  included,  and  encamped 
the  first  night  at  Half- Way  Brook.  One  Indian,  being 
hurt  by  accident,  returned  to  Fort  Edward.  The  4th, 
marched  to  within  one  mile  and  a  half  of  Lake  George, 
and  halted  till  evening,  that  we  might  the  better  pass  un- 
discovered by  the  enemy,  if  any  were  on  the  hill  recon- 
noitering.  We  continued  our  march  till  two  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  and  halted  at  the  first  narrows.  It  being  ex- 
cessive cold,  and  several  of  our  party  being  frost-bitten,  I 
sent  back  twenty-three,  under  the  charge  of  a  careful 
Serjeant,  to  Fort  Edward.  We  continued  here  till  the 
evening  of  the  5th,  then  marched  to  Sabbath-day  Point, 
where  we  arrived  about  eleven  o'clock,  almost  overcome 
with  the  cold.  At  two  o'clock  we  continued  our  march, 
and  reached  the  landing  place  about  eight.  I  sent  out  a  small 


*  Diedrick  Brehm  wd  a  German,  and  was  commUsioned  as  lieutenant  in  the 
id  Bittallon  of  the  60th  oi- Royai  Amcric?n  Regiment  Feb.  21,  1756.  He 
iccompanied  Major  Roge.s  to  Detroit ;  obtained  ihe  command  of  a  company 
if  "he  60th  Regiment,  November  16,  1774,  and  became  major  in  the  army 
M.  ch  19,  1783.  See  Wihont  Orderly  Book,  p.  46,  and  authorities  there 
cited. 


I  {O     'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


party  to  observe  if  any  of  the  enemy's  parties   went  out. 
They  returned  and  reported,  that  none  were  to  be  seen  on 
the  west-side  of  the  lake,  but  on  the  east  were  two  work- 
ing parties,      it  now  appeared  to  be  a  suitable  time  for  the 
engineer  to  make  his  observations.     I  left  Capt.  Williams 
to  remain    at  this    place    with   the    Regulars,    and    thirty 
Rangers,  whUe  I,  with   the  engineer,  forty-nine   Rangers, 
and  Capt.   Lotridge,  with   forty-five   Indians,  went  to  the 
isthmus  that  ovctlooks  the  fort,  where  he  made  his  obser- 
vations.    We  returned  to  our  party,  leaving  five   Indians 
and  one  Ranger  to  observe  what  numbers  crossed  the  lake 
in  the  evening  from  the  east-side  to  the  fort,  that  I  might 
know  the  better  how  to  atiack  them   next  mornina.    At 
dark  the  engineer  went  again,  with  Lieut.   Tute,  and  a 
guard  of  ten  men,  to  the  entrenchments^  and  returned  at 
midnight  without  opposition,  having  done  his  business  to 
his  satisfaction.     On  which  I  ordered  Capt.  Williams  with 
the  Regulars  back  to  Sabbath-day  Point ;  the  party  being 
extremely   distressed  with  the  cold,  it  appeared   to  me  im- 
prudent to   march  his  men  any  further,  especially  as  they 
had  no  snow  shoes.     I  sent  with   him   Lieut.   Tute  and 
thirty  Rangers,  with  directions  to  kindle  fires  on  the  afore- 
said  point.       At   three    oMock    I    marched    with    three 
Lieutenants  and  forty   Rangers,  one  Regular,  and  Capt. 
Lotridge  with  forty-six   Indians,  in  order   to  be   ready  to 
attack  the  enemy's  working  parties  on  the  east-side  of  the 
lake  early  in  the  morning.     We  crossed  South-Bay  about 
eight  miles  south  of  the  tort  j*  from  thence,  it  being  about 
six  o'clock,  bore  down  right  opposite  the   fort,  and  within 
half  a  mile  of  where  the   French  parries,  agreeable  to  our 
expectations,  were  cutting  of  wood.     Here  I  halted,  and 


*  Here  we  found   that  a  party  of  Indians  had   gone  up  the  bay  towards  our  j 
forts. — Note  in  thi  original. 


•■PF^ 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.       131 

sent  two   Indians  and  two   Rangers  to  observe  their  situa- 
tion.    They    returned    in    a    few    minutes,    and    brought 
intelligence,   that  the  working    parties  were    close    to  the 
banks  of  the  lake,  and  opposite  the  fort,  and  were  about 
forty  in  number  ;  upon  which  we  stripped  off  our  blankets, 
and  ran    down    upon    them,  took    several    prisoners,  and 
destroyed  most  of  the  party  as  they  were  retreating  to  the 
fort,  from   whence  being   discovered,  about   eighty   Cana- 
dians  and    Indians  pursued   us  closely,  being   backed  by 
I  about  150   French   regulars,  and  in  a  mile's  march   they 
I  began  a   fire  in  our   rear  ;  and  as  we   marched   in  a  line 
abreast,  our  front  was  easily    made  ;  I  halted   on  a   rising 
ground,  resolving  to  make  a  stand  against  the  enemy,  who 
[appeared  at  first  very  resolute  :  but  we  repulsed  them  before 
Itheir  reinforcement  came   up,  and  began   our  march  again 
lin  a   line   abreast  ;    having    advanced    about    half  a  mile 
irther,  they   came   in   sight  again.     As  soon  as  we  could 
obtain  an  advantageous  post,  which  was  a  long  ridge,  we 
igain  made  a  stand  on  the  side  opposite  the  enemy.     The 
'!)anadians  and   Indians  came   very   close,  but  were  soon 
topped  by  a  warm  fire   from  the   Rangers  and   Mohocks. 
^hey  broke  immediately,  and  the   Mohocks  with   some 
Angers   pursued,  and   entirely  routed   them  before  their 
tegulars  could  come  up.     After  this  we  marched  without 
ly  opposition.     In  these   several   skirmishes  we  had  two 
tangers  and  one  Regular  killed,  and  one  Indian  wounded, 
id  killed  about  thirty  of  the  enemy.     We  continued  our 
:h  till  twelve  o'clock  at   night,    and  came  to   Capt. 
Williams  at  Sabbath-day  Point  (fifty  miles  distant  from  the 
ice  we  set  out  from  in  the  morning).     The  Captain  re- 
Bived  us  with   good   fires,  than   which   scarce   any   thing 
»uld  be  more  acceptable   to  my   party,  several  of  which 
|id  their  feet  froze,  it  being  excessive  cold,  and  the  snow 
ir  feet  deep.     Next  morning  marched   the    whole  de- 


m 


132     'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

as  far  as  Long  Island*  in   Lake  George,  and  there  en- 
camped    that    night.     On   our    march    from    Sabbath-clay 
Point  to  this  island,  I  gave  leave  to  some  of  ihe  Rangers  I 
and  Indians  to  hunt  near  the  side  of  the  lake,  who  brought  1 
us  in  great  plenty  of  venison  for  our  re/reshmenr. 

I  sent  Lieut.   Tute,  with   the   following  letter,   to  Col 
Haldiman,   fearing   lest  a   oarty  of  Indians  we  had  soniej 
notice  of  might  have  gone  up  South  Bay,  and  get  anoopori 
tunity  of  doing  mischief  before  I  could  reach  Fort  Edward 
with  the  whole  detachment. 

Camp  at  Sabbath-day  Pointy  fridaj, 
eight  o'clock  in  the  morning. 
«  Sir, 

*■*'  I  send  this  to  let  you  know  that  sixty  Indians,  in  twol 
parties,  are  gone  towards  Fort  Edward  and  Saratoga,  and  I 
fear  will  strike  some  blow  before  this  reaches  you.    MrJ 
Brheem  is  satisfied  he  has  done  his  business  agreeable t 
his  orders  \  since  which  I  have  taken  some  prisoners  frcd 
Ticonderoga,  and  destroyed  others  of  the  enemy,  ofi 
particulars  of  which  toe  bearer  will  inform  you. 

"The  Mohocks  behaved  with  great  bravery;  somebaij 
been  within  pistol-shot  of  the  French  fort. 

*'  Two-thirds  of  my  detachment  have  froze  their  fd 
(the  weather  being  so  severe,  that  it  is  almost  impossiblej 
describe  it)  some  of  which  we  are  obliged  to  carry. 

I  am,  &c., 

R,  Rogers: 


*  LoitK  Iiland,  about  six  miles  f>oin  the  he?.d  of  the  lake,  is  the  \»t 
island  in  the,  lake  and  lies  opposite  the  entiance  of  the  *<  Sourh  Ara,'| 
Takundatu'de  Bay.  The-e  are  in  fact  three  b;.ys  or  divislojis  of  this  < 
variously  nam'id  as  ''Van  Worme-'s  Bay,"  Sandy  E?y,"  "Middle  Bay,"^ 
on  roode.n  maps.  «  As  named  on  Capl.  Jaouson's  m^p  of  1756.  Ititj 
present  day  has  a  f?rm  upon  it  in  the  tow.i  of  Queentbuy,  Wutcd  Co^ 
hat  a  steambo^t  dock  on  the  east  tide. 


BOB 


journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,      133 

Fort  Edward^  March  lo,  1759. 
"Dear  Sir, 
"  I  congratulate  you  heartily  on  your  good  success,  and 
[send  you  twenty-two  sleys  to  transport  your  sick.  You 
{will,  by  this  opportunity,  take  as  many  boards  as  you  can 
Iconveniently.*  My  best  compliments  to  Capt.  Williams, 
[and  to  all  the  gentlemen,  I  am,  Sir, 

Your  most  humble  servant, 

Fred  Haldimand. 


dians,  in  ml 
.ratoga,  and  I 
;s  you.  Mf 
s  agreeable  t; 
risoners  froi 
nemy,  of  tM 

)U.  I 

a\  somebd 

>ze  their  fej 
:  impossibH 
:arry. 

Rogen! 


"  P.  S.  I  had  the  signal-guns  fired  to  give  notice  to  the 
lifFerent  posts.      Nothing  has  appeared  as  yet.  f  " 
We  were  met  by  the  sleys,  and  a   detachment  of  100 
len  at  Lake  George,  and  all  arrived  safe  at  Fort  Edward, 
rhere  I  received  the  following  letters  upon  my  arrival. 
"  Sir, 

"  I  yesterday  received  your  letter  by  Mr.  Stark.  The 
ieneral  approves  of  raising  the  Indian  companies  ;  but  as 
has  not  heard  the  Rangers  are  complete,  he  cannot 
gree  to  the  raising  more  companies,  t'll  the  present 
les  are  complete  at  Fort  Edward.  Mr.  Stark  sees  out 
-morrow  for  New  England.  I  have  ordered  him  to 
irry  up  the  recru'ts  of  your  corps,  and  repeat  my  orders 
the  officers,  to  jo».i  their  companies  if  they  are  com- 
|ete.  You"'  arms  have  been  tried  and  proved  by  the 
lillery ;  they  answer  very  well,  and  are  ordered  to  be  sent 
you  as  fast  as  possible :  the  General  has  sent  to  you  by 
ipt.  Jacobs.     We  have  chose  out  one  hundred  men  from 


Lite,  is  the  N 


r:ons 


I  M'-ddle  Bay, 
1756- 


WuTcn 


lt«| 


Boards   left  at  ..be  pkce  wbere    Fort    William-Henry   itood,   and    now 
|ted  at  Fort  Edwikd. 

The  explosion  of  these  signal -guns  (as  we  afterwards  heard)  was  heard  by 
party  of  the  enemy,  then  near  Fort  Millar,  eight  miles  below  Fort  £d- 
who  thereupon  supposing  themselves  discovered,  retreated  with  precip- 
bn.— iVo«  in  tht  original. 


1 34     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


m 


each  regiment,  and  pitched  upon  the  officers  to  act  this  ya 
as  light  infantry  ;  they  are  cloathed  and  accoutred  as  ligtita,] 
possible,  and,  in  my  opinion,  are  a  kind  of  troops  thatbl 
been  much  wanted  in  this  country.     They  have  what  ammJ 
nition   they   want,  so   that  I   don't  doubt  but  they  willxl 
excellent   marksmen.      You    may    depend    upon    Genenl 
Amherst's  intentions  to  have  you  \  I  heard  Brigadier  GaJ 
mention  you  to  him.     From  what  knowledge  I  haveoftitl 
General,  I  can  only  say  that  merit  is  sure  to  be  rewardecf 
nor    does    he    favour  any    recommendation,    without  i 
person  recommended  really  deserves  his  promotion.    \i 
will  return  your  companies  to  me  as  soon  as  complete, 
Your  obedient  humble  servant, 

R.    Townshenl" 
New  Torky 
Feb.  26,  1759, 
To  Major  Rogers. 

**SiR,  New  Tork^  Feb.  13,  i;59,j 

"  This  will   be  delivered  to  you  by  Capt.   Jacob  Nj| 
nawampeteoonk,  who  last  campaign  commanded  a  comp 
of  Stockbridge  Indians,  and   who,  upon  hearing  that  n 
had  wrote  to  me  concerning  him,  came   to  offer  mei 
service  for  the  ensuing  campaign :   But   as  you  have 
mentioned  to  me  the  terms  and   conditions  on  whicll 
was   to  engage,  I  have  referred  him  to   you  to  give  iol 
proposals,  that  you  may  report  to  me  thereupon,  and  intl 
me  if  you  think  his  service  adequate  to  them  ;  after  wif 
I  shall  give  you  my  answer.     I  am,  Sir, 

Your  very  humble  servant, 

Jeff.  Amhen\\ 
To  Major  Rogers. 

Before  I  received  this  letter  from  his  Excellency,  11 
wrote  to  him,  recommending  several  officers  to  the  si 
cies  in  the  ranging  companies,  and  inclosed  a  jouro 


UHk^Mlllii 


journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      1 35 

my  late  scout ;  soon  after  my  return  from  which  I  went  to 
Albany,  to  settle  my  accompts  with  the  government,  where 
I  waited  upon  his  Excellency  the  General,  by  whom  I  was 
very  kindly  received,  and  assured  that  I  should  have  the  rank 
of  Major  in  the  army  from  the  date  of  my  commission 
under  General  Abercrombie. 

I  returned  to  Fort  Edward  the  fifteenth  of  May,  where 
I  received  the  melancholy  news,  that  Capt.  Burbank,  with 
a  party  of  thirty  men,  had  in  my  absence  been  sent  out  on 
a  scout,  and  were  all  cut  ofF.  This  gave  me  great  uneasi- 
ness, as  Mr.  Burbank  was  a  gentleman  I  very  highly 
esteemed,  and  one  of  the  best  officers  among  the  Rangers, 
and  more  especially  as  I  judged  the  scout  he  was  sent  out 
upon  by  the  commanding  officer  at  the  fort  was  needless, 
and  unadvisedly  undertaken. 

Preparations  for  the  campaign  were  hastened  by  his 
Excellency  the  General  in  every  quarter ;  the  levies  from 
the  several  provinces  forwarded,  the  companies  of  Rangers 
compleated,  and  disciplined  in  the  best  manner  I  was 
capable  of,  and  of  which  the  General  was  pleased  greatly 
to  approve. 

In  the  month  of  June,  part  of  the  army  marched  with 
General  Gage*  for  the  lake.  I  was  ordered  to  send  three 
companies  there  with  Capt.  Stark,  and  to  remain  with  the 
General  myself  with  the  other  three  companies,  till  such 
[time  as  he  marched  thither.  In  this  interval,  pursuant  to 
his  Excellency's  orders,  I  sent  out  several  parties  to  the 
French  forts,  who  from  time  to  time  discovered  the  situa- 
jtion  of  the  enemy,  and  brought  satisfactory  intelligence. 

*  Gen.  Thomas  ^^ge,  after  the   conquest  of  Canada,  was  appointed   Gov- 
ernor oi   Muntreul,  and  in  1763  succeeded  Lord  Amherst   ai  Commanderin- 
Phief  oi  the   British  forces  in  America,  and  in  1774  was  appointed  Governor 
Jj^i  Massachusetts.     He   returned   to    England   in   October,    1775,   "*<'  ^'^'^  '" 
April,  1787. 

14 


1 36     'journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 

About  the  20th  of  June,  the  General  with  the  remain- 
der of  the  army  marched  to  the  lake,  the  Rangers 
being  in  the  advanced  guard  ;  and  here  his  Excellency  wa^ 
pleased  to  fulfil  his  promise  to  me,  by  declaring  in  public 
orders,  my  rank  of  Major  in  the  army,  from  the  date  ut 
my  commission,  as  Major  of  the  Rangers.  We  continued 
here  collecting  our  strength  together,  and  making  neces- 
sary preparations,  anu  getting  what  intelligence  we  cuuld 
of  the  strength  and  situation  of  the  enemy,  till  July  21, 
1759.  when  the  army  embarked  for  Ticonderoga.  I  was 
in  the  front  with  the  Rangers  on  the  right  wing,  and  was 
the  first  body  that  landed  on  July  22,  at  the  north  end  of 
Lake  George,  followed  by  the  grenadiers  and  light  infantry, 
which  Colonel  Haviland  commanded. 

I  marched,  agreeable  to  orders  from  the  General,  across 
the  mountains  in  the  isthmus  ;  from  thence,  in  a  by-way. 
athwart  the  woods  to  the  bridge  at  the  Saw-mills  ;  where 
finding  the  bridge  standing,  I  immediately  crossed  it  with 
my  Rangers,  and  took  possession  of  the  rising  ground  on  the 
other  side,  and  beat  from  thence  a  party  of  the  enemy,  and 
took  several  prisoners,  killed  others,  and  put  the  remainder 
to  flight,  before  Col.  Haviland  with  his  grenadiers  and  light 
infantry  got  over.  The  army  took  possession  that  night  of 
the  heights  near  the  Saw-mills,  where  they  lay  all  thisi 
evening. 

The  enemy  kept  out  a  scouting-party,  with  a  body  ot| 
Canadians  and  Indians,  which  killed  several  of  our  men,| 
and  galled  us  prodigiously. 

July  23,  the  General,  early  in  the  morning,  put  thel 
army  in  motion  j  at  the  same  time  ordered  me  in  the  frort.f 
with  directions  to  proceed  across  the  Chestnut  Plain  the 
nighest  and  best  way  I  could,  to  Lake  Champlain,  and  dol 
my  endeavour  no  strike  it  near  the  edge  of  the  c'  iredj 
ground,  between  that  and  the  breastwork,  where 


journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,      i  37 


:  remain- 
Ran^crs 
ency  was 
.n   public 
le  date  of 
:ontinued 
ng  neces- 
we   could 
July  21, 
a.     1  was 
,  and  was 
jrth  end  ot 
It  infantry, 

eral,  across 
,  a  by-way. 
iUs -/where 
ised  it  with 
pund  on  the 
enemy,  and 
'  e  remainder  I 
(rs  and  light  I 
[hat  night  of 

[lay  all  this 

a  body  of| 
)f  our  men. 

ig,  p"^  ^H 

[in  the  fror:.! 
lut  Plaint*'^ 
])lain,  and  del 

the  c'  :uec| 

kere 


halt  till  I  received  further  orders.  Having  pursued  mv 
orders,  and  halted  at  the  lake,  I  informed  the  General  of 
my  situation,  and  that  nothing  extraordinary  had  happened 
in  our  march. 

The  General  by  this  time  had  appointed  and  formed  a 
a  detachment  to  attack  their  main  breast-work  on  the  hill, 
and  had  got  possession  of  it.  I  was  ordered  to  send  tv/o 
hundred  men  to  take  possession  of  a  small  entrenchment 
next  to  Lake  Champlain  ;  and  Captain  Brewer,  whom  I 
had  sent  to  take  possession  of  this  post,  happily  succeeded. 

From  the  time  the  army  came  in  sight  the  enemy  kept 
up  a  constant  fire  of  cannon  from  their  walls  and  batteries 
at  our  people.  The  General  at  this  time  had  left  several 
Provincial  regiments  to  bring  the  cannon  and  ammunition 
across  the  Carrying  Place,  together  with  provisions,  which 
they  did  with  great  expedition  *. 

July  24.  All  this  day  the  engineers  were  employed  in 
raising  batteries,  as  was  likewise  a  great  part  of  the  army 
in  that  work,  and  in  making  and  fetching  fascines,  till  the 
26th  :)t  night ;  all  which  time  I  had  parties  out  to  Crown 
Point  to  watch  the  motions  of  the  enemy  there  ;  by  which 
means  the  General  had  not  only  daily,  but  hourly  intelli- 
[gence  from  those  posts. 

I  this  day    received  orders    from    the  General  to  attempt 

I  to  cut  away  a  boom  which  the  French  had  thrown  across 

the  lake  opposite  the  fort,  which  prevented  our  boats  from 

jfrom  passing   by,  and  cutting  off  their  retreat.      For  the 

Icompletion    of  this    order    I    had    sixty    Rangers    in    one 


*  A       ;  -his  time  some  of  the  Provincial  regiments   were  sent  to  Oswego' 
assist  in  building  a  fort  there. 

— Note  by  the  Author. 


1 38      'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 


English  flat-bottomed  boat,  and  two  whale  boats*,  in 
which,  after  night  came  on,  I  embarked,  and  passed  over 
to  the  other  side  of  Lake  Champlain,  opposite  to  the  Ran- 
gers encampment,  and  from  that  intended  to  steer  my 
course  along  the  east-shore,  and  privately  saw  off  fheir 
boom,  for  which  end  I  had  taken  saws  with  me,  the  boom 
being  made  with  logs  of  timber. 

About  nine  o'clock,  when  I  had  got  about  half  way 
from  the  place  where  I  had  embarked,  the  enemy,  who 
had  undermined  their  fort,  sprung  their  mines,  which  blew 
up  with  2  loud  explosion,  the  enemy  being  all  rer^ly  to  em- 
bark on  board  their  boats,  and  make  a  retrert.  This  gave 
me  an  opportunity  to  attack  them  with  such  success  as  to 
drive  several  of  them  ashore ;  so  that  next  morning  we 
took  from  the  east-shore  ten  boats,  with  a  considerable 
quantity  of  baggage,  p.iid  upwards  of  fifty  barrels  of  pcwder 
and  large  quantities  of  ball.  About  ten  o'clock  I  returned, 
and  made  my  report  to  the  General. 

The  27th  I  was  ordered  with  ./ly  party  to  the  Saw-mills 
(to  wait  the  flying  parties  of  the  enemy  which  were  ex- 
pected that  way)  where  I  lay  till  the  nth  of  Augustt,  on 
which  day  I  received  the  following  orders  from  General 
Amherst. 


*  These  boats  were  carried  across  the  land  from  Lake  George  to  Lake 
Champlain,  on  which  day  the  brave  and  worthy  Col.  Towns!  nd  ^^.ls  kill'i 
by  a  cannon  ball  from  the  enemy,  whose  fall  was  much  lamented  In  tht 
General. — Nott  by  the  Author. 

Roger  Townshend,  fourth  son  of  Viscount  Townshend  was  commissinnid  u 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Feb.  i,  1756,  and  served  as  Adjutant  Geni-rai  in  tlif  (i 
peditiori  against  Louisburgh,  and  <.«  Deputy  Adjutant  General  in  the  Campaiin 
of  1759,  with  the  rank  of  Colonel.  His  remains  were  taken  to  /Ibanj  (or 
burial.  —  ff^iUont  Orderly  Book, 

j-  About  thii   time  a  oarty  of  my    people  discovered  that  the  enemy's  Fort  I 
at  Crown  Point  was  likewise  blown  up,  and  the  enemy  fled. 

— Note  hy  the  Author. 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Refers,      1 39 


oats" 

^  in 

ssed 

over 

the 

Ran- 

steer  mv 

off 

fheir 

the 

boom 

"Sir, 
"  You  are  this  night  to  send  a  Captain,  with  a  proper 
)roportion  of  subalterns,  and  two  hundred  men,  to  Crown 
*oint,  where  the  officer  is  to  post  himself  in  such  a  man- 
ijei  as  not  to  be  surprised,  and  to  seize  on  the  best  ground 
defending  himself  ;  and  if  he  should  be  attacked  by  the 
^nemy,  he  is  not  to  retreat  with  his  party,  but  keep  his 
jround  till  he  is  reinforced  from  the  army.     I  am,  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient, 
To  i/rt/or  Rogers.  Jeff.  Arr.henty 

Capt.   Brewer  went  with  a  party,  and  the  General  fol- 
)wed  the    I2th   with   the   whole  army,  and  the  same  day 
[rrived  at  Crown   Point,  where   it   was  found  that   Capt. 
Jrewer  had  executed  his  orders  extremely  well. 

This   evening    I    had    orders    for    encamping,    and   the 

[rounds  for  each  corps  being  laid  out,  my  camp  was  fixed  in 

le  front  of  the  army.      Immediately  after  the  General  had 

|ot  the  disposition   of  his  camp  setHed,  he  began  to  clear 

round,  and  prepare  a   place   for  erecting  a  new  fort,  in 

^hich  service  great  part  of  the  army  was  employed.     I  had 

rders  to  send  Capt.  Stark,  with  two  hundred  Rangers,  to 

It  a  road  to  No.  4.  which  party  was  immediately  sent. 

During  these  transactions  I  sent  out  (  by  the  General's 

)probation  )  several  scouting  parties  against  the  enemy*, 

|hich  brought   in   prisoners    from    St.   John's    Fort,    and 

khcrs  penetrated  into  the  back  country,  the  better  to  learn 

>c  nature  and  sifuaiion  of  it. 

Thus  were  we  employed  till  the  12th  of  September, 
ficn  the  General,  exasperated  at  the  treatment  which 
ipt.  Kennedy  had  met  with,  who   had    been    sent  with  a 


Cipt.  Tute,  and  Lkutenant  Fletcher,  in  two  different   scouting    partie«, 
\i  taken  and  carried  to  Canada. 

—'Note  by  the  Author, 


140     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

•party  as  a  flag  of  truce  to  the  St.  F'ancis  Indians,  witil 
proposals  of  peace  to  them,  and  was  by  them  madeij 
prisoner  with  his  whole  party  ;  this  ungenerous,  inhuman(l 
treatment  determined  the  General  to  chastize  these  savaaol 
with  some  severity,  and,  in  order  to  it,  I  received  from  hiul 
the  following  orders,  viz. 

*  ''  You  are  this  night  to  set  out  with  the  detachmfirl 
as  ordered  yesterday,  viz.  of  200  men,  which  you  will  taitJ 
under  your  command,  and  proceed  to  Misisquey  Bav,  tro'l 
whence  you  will  march  and  attack  the  enemy's  settlcmeni 
on  the  south-side  of  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  in  suchi 
manner  as  you  shall  judge  most  effectual  to  disgrace  tin 
enemy,  and  for  the  success  and  honour  of  his  iVlajestvl 
arms. 

"Remember  the  barbarities  that  have  been  committedil 
the  enemy's  Indian  scoundrels  on  every  occasion,  where  tlift 
had  an  opportunity  of  shewing  their  infamous  cruelties ( 
the  King's  subjects,  which  they  have  done  without  mercij 
Take  your  revenge,  but  don't  forget  that  tho'  those  vilbii 
have  dastardly  and  promiscuously  murdered  the  women arj 
children  of  all  ages,  it  is  my  orders  that  no  women 
children  are  killed  or  hurt. 

"When  you  have  executed  your  intended  service,  yd 
will  return  with  your  detachment  to  camp,  or  to  joini 
wherever  the  army  may  be. 

Yours,  &c. 
Camp  at  Crown  Pointy  J^lf'  yffthent.'^ 

Sept.  13,  i75«. 
To  Major  Rogers. 


*  That  this  expedition  might  be  carried  on  with  the  utmost  secrcsy  atrH 
plan  of  it  was  concerted  the  day  before  my  march,  it  was  put  into  puili. 
that  I  was  to  marcii  a  different  way,  at  the  same   time    I    had   priv.ue  mn 
tions  to  proceed  directly  to  St.  Francis. 

— Note  by  the  Author. 


I         I 


\J 


^^^ 


journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     141 


In  pursuance   of  the   above  orders,  I  set  out  the  same 

•vcning  with  a   detachment ;  and   as  to  the   particulars  of 

JV  proceedings,  and  the  great  difficulties  we  met  with    in 

Effecting  our  design,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  letter  I 

rrote   to   General    Amherst    upon    my    return,   and    the 

[emarks  following  it. 

Copy  of  my  letter  to  the  General  upon  my  return  from 

St.  Francis. 

^'SlR, 

''The  twenty-second  day  after  my  departure  from  Crown 
roint,  I  came  in  sight  of  the  Indian  town  St.  Francis  in 
be  evening,  which  I  discovered  from  a  tree  that  I  climbed, 

about  three  miles  distance.  Here  I  halted  my  party, 
^hich  now  consisted  of  \a.i  men,  officers  included,  being 
^(luced  to  that  number  by  the  unhappy  accident  which 
5tel  Capt.  Williams"''',  and  several  since  tiring,  whom  I 
is  obliged  to  sond  back.  At  eight  o'clock  tl.is  evening  I 
ft  the  detachment,  and  .took  with  me  Lieut.  Turner, 
jid  Ensign  Averv,  and  went  to  reconnoitre  the  town,  which 

id  to  my  satisfaction,  and  I  found  the  Indians  in  a  high 
)lic  or  dance.  I  returned  to  my  party  at  two  o'clock, 
kd  at  three  marched  it  to  within  five  hundred  yards  of  the 

n\^  wh'-re  I  lightened  the  men  of  their  packs,  and  formed 

tm  for  the  attack. 

["  At   half  an  hour  before  sl  n-rise  I  surprised  the  town 

len  they  Wvire  all  fast  asleep,  on  the  right,  left,  and  center, 

jich  was  done  with  so  much  alacrity  by  both  the  officers 
men,  that  the  enemy  had  not  time  to  recover  themselves, 

[take  arms  for  their  own  defence,  till   they  were  chiefly 

Capt.  Williams  of  the  Royal  Regiment  was,  the  fifth  day    of  our  march 
ientally  burnt   with  gun-powder,  and   several    men   hurt,  which,  together 
some  sick,  returned  back  to  Crown  Foint,  to  the  number  of  forty,  under 
are  ut   Capt.  Williami,  who   returned    with  great  reluctance. 

— Note  by  tht  Author 


142     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

destroyed,  except  some  few  of  them  who  took  to  the  watt 
About  forty  of  my  people   pursued   them,  who  destrovc 
such  as  attempted  to  make  their  escape  that  way,  and  surj 
both  them  and  their  boats.     A  little  after  sun-rise  I  setiiJ 
to  all  their  houses,  except  three,  in  which  there  was  coj 
that  I  reserved  for  the  use  of  the  party. 

"  The  fire  consumed  many  of  the  Indians  who  had  a;| 
cealed  themselves  in  the  cellars  and  lofts  of  their  housts 
About  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  affair  was  coci 
pletely  over,  in  which  time  we  had  killed  at  least  two  hJ 
dred  Indians,  and  taken  twenty  of  their  women  and  childrtf 
prisoners,*  fifteen  of  whom  I  let  go  their  own  way,  acj 
five  I  brought  with  me,  viz.  two  Indian  boys,  and  thrJ 
Indian  girls.  I  likewise  retook  five  English  captives,  whi 
I  also  took  under  my  care. 


*  These  prisoners,  when  brought  to  Number  Foi'r,  claimed   Mrs,  Joh« 
as   an  old   acquainta;j:e,  she   having    been  with  t^eir  tribe  as  a  prisoner,: 
time  before.     One  of  them  was  called   Scbattif.     The  bell  of  the  Zii 
chapel  was  also  brought  away,  and  a  quantity  cf  silver  brooches  taiceo' 
the  savages  who  were  slain. — Stark\  Memoirs,  4.49. 

A  Fiench  account  of  the  burning  of  St.  Fi.ncis,  is  given  in  a  journal 
in  the  army  of  the  late  M.  de  Montcalm,  as  follows  : 

"Towards  the  fore  part  of  October,  a  detachment  of  about  200  men  otlj 
Amherst's  army,  headed  by  Captain  Rogers,  having  liad  the  boldness  torr;i 
a  pretty  extensive  tract  of  country  covered  with  timber,  succeeded,  under;.! 
of  the  surprise,  in  burning   the  Indian  village  of  St.  Francis.      M.  dc  6.: 
mayne  was  fully  advised   of  his    march  ;  he   had  caused    the  renioval 
canoes  which  Rogers  had  been  obliged  to  abandon  beyond   Isle  jux  \ 
expecting  him  to  return  by  the  same  route,  had  him  watched,  at  the  pii 
by  a  strong  detachment  of  Canadians  and  Indians;   but  Rogers  had  jn:^4 
all  that,  and  had,  in  consequence,  resolved  to  reach  Orange  by  another  wjh 
could  not  however  escape  the  pursuit  of  a  party  of  100  Indians  wlioruvl 
vengeance.   Want  of  provisions  rendered  it  necessary  for  him  to  divide  iiij 
in  small    platoons,  in  order  more  easily  to   Hnd  subsistence.     They  n^^a: 
some  forty,  and'  arried  off  ten  prisoners   to  their    village,  where  o.  e  ut : 
fell  a  victim  to  the  fury  of  the  women,  notwithstanding  the  efforts  thct 
dim  could  make  to  lave  them. — N,  Y.  Colonial  History,  x,  1042. 


mtama 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      143 


When  I  had  paraded  my  detachment,  I  found  I  had 
'apt.  Ogden  badly  wounded  in  his  body,  but  not  so  as  to 
jiiider  him  from  doing  his  duty.  I  had  also  six  men  slightly 
mounded,  and  one  Stockbridge  Indian  killed. 

I  ordered  my  people  to  take  corn  out  of  the  reserved 

kouses  for  their  subsistence   home,  there   being  no  other 

Irovision  there  ;  and  whilst  they  were  loading  themselves 

examined  the  prisoners  and  captives,  who  gave  the  follow- 

intelligence  :  *  That  a  party  of  300  French,  and  some 

idians,  were  about  four  miles  down  the  river  below  us  ; 

id  that  our   boats  were  way-laid,  which  I   had  reason   to 

lieve  was  true,  as  they  told  the  exact  number,  and  the 

:  where  I  left  them  at ;  that  a  party  of  200  French  and 

fteen  Indians  had,  three  days  before  I  attacked  the  town, 

)ne  up  the  river  Wigwam  Martinic,  supposing  that  was 

place  I   intended   to  attack  ;  *  whereupon  I  called   the 

icers  together,  to  consult  the  safety  of  our  return,  who 

lere  of  opinion  there  was  no  other  way  for  us  to  leturn 

ith  safety,    but    by    No.   4   on    Connecticut    River.       I 

irched   the  detachment  eight  days  in  a   body  that  way  ; 

jid  when  provisions  grew  scarce,    near  Ampara   Magog 

ike,*  I  divided    the  detachment   into  small   companies, 

llting  proper  guides  to  each,  who  were  to  assemble  at  the 

)uth   of   Amonsook    River,t    as   I    expected    provisions 

|)uld  be  brought  there  for  our  relief,^  not  knowing  which 

ly  I  should  return. 


Lake  Mcmphremagog  on  the  line  between  the  present  state  of  Vermont  and 
iJPruvince  of'  Quebec.     Rogers    afterwards  endeavored   to   obtain  a  grant  of 
near  this  lake. 

Anuin^ouk   river   falls    into   Connecticut   river    about    sixty    miles  above 
liber  Fdur. —  Note  by  the  Author. 

I  An  officer,  upon  some  intelligence  that  I    had  v  '^en  B<>ing  out,  was    sent 
to  Crown  Point  from   Misisquey  bay,  to  desire     iiat  provisions  might  b<: 
kyed  to  this  place,  as  I  had  reason  to  believe  we  should  be  deprived  of  our 
f,  and  consequently  be  obliged  to  return  this  way. —  Note  by  the  Autkry, 


16 


I  i 


144     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

"  Two  days  after  we   parted.  Ensign  Avery,  of  Fitche's, 
fell  in  on  my  track,  and  followed  in  my  rear  ;  and  a  pam 
of  the  enemy  came  upon  them,  and  took  seven  of  his  pam 
prisoners,  two  of  whom  that  night  made   their  escape,  and 
came  in  to  me  next  morning.      Avery,  with  the  remainder 
of  his  party  joined  mine,  and  came  with  me  to  the  Coha« 
Intervales,   where   I   left  them   with    Lieut.   Grant,  from 
which  place,  I,  with  Capt.  Ogden,  and  one  man  more,  put 
down  the  river  on  a  small  raft  to  this  place,  where  I  arrived 
yesterday  ;  and  in  half  an  hour  after  my  arrival  dispatched 
provisions  up  the  river  to  Lieut.  Grant  in  a  canoe,  which 
I  am   pretty  certain  will   reach    him    this  night,  and   next  I 
morning  sent  two  other   canoes  up  the  river  for   the  relief 
of  the  other  parties,  loaded  with  provisions,  to  the  mouth  | 
of  Amonsdok  River. 

*'  I  shall  set  off  to  go  up  the  river  myself  to-morrow,  to  I 
seek  and   bring  in  as  many  of  our  men  as  I   can  find,  and 
expect  to  be  back  in  about  eight  days,  when  I  shall,  wiihl 
all  expedition,  return   to  Crown  Point.     As  to  other  par- 
Mculars  relative  to  this  scout,  which  your   Excellency  marl 
think  proper  to  inquire  after,  I   refer  you  to  Capt.  Ogden, 
who  bears  this,  and   has   accompanied   me  all   the  time  11 
have  been  out,  behaving  very  well.     I  am,  Sir,  with  th(| 
greatest  respect, 

Your  Excellency's  most  obedient  servant. 
No.  4.  R.  Rogers." 

Nov.  5,  1759. 
7o  General  Amherst. 

I    cannot    forbear    here  making  some  remarks  on  thcl 
difficulties  and    distresses   which  attended    us,  in   effectinij 
this  enterprize  upon   St.  Francis,  which  is  situated   withiJ 
three   miles  of  jhe  river  St.    Lawrence,  in   the   middle  0: 
Canada,  about   half  way   between  Montreal  and  Queb^j 
It  hath  already  been  mentioned,  how  our  party  was  leduceil 


MMikiMM 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      145 

by  the  accident  which  befell  Capt.  Williams,  the  fifth  day 

after  our  departure,  and  still  farther  bv  numbers  tir-ng  and 

tailing  sick  afterwards.      It    was   extremely   difficult   while 

we  kept  the  water  ( and  which  retarded  our  progress  very 

much  )  to  pass  undiscovered  by  the  enemy,  who  were  then 

cruizing  in  great  numbers  upon  the  lake;  and  had  prepared 

j certain  vessels,  on  purpose  to  decoy  any  party  of  ours,  that 

might  come  that  way,  armed  with  all  manner  of  machines 

and  implements    for    their    destruction ;     but    we    happily 

escaped  their  snares  of  this  kind,  and  landed  (  as  hath  been 

mentioned  )  the  tenth  day  at  Misisquey  Bay.      Here,  that  I 

[might  with  more  certainty  know  whether  my  boats  (  with 

Iwhich  I  left  provision  sufficient  to  carry  us  back  to  Crown 

IPoint)  were  discovered   by  the  enemy,    I   left   two   trusty 

[Indians  to  lie  at  a  distance  in  sight  of  the  boats,  and  there 

to  stay  till  I  came  back,  except  the  enemy  found  them  \  in 

i'hich  latter  case  they  were  with  all  possible  speed  to  follow 

}n  my  track,  and  give   me   intelligence.      It    happened   the 

leconii  day  after  I  left  them,  that  these  two  Indians  came 

ip  to  me  in  the  evening,  and  informed  me  that  about  400 

^rench  had  discoveied  and  taken  my  boats,  and  that  about 

)ne  half  of  them  were  hotly  pursuing  on  my  track.      This 

inlucky  circumstance  (it  may  well  be  supposed)  put  us  into 

3me  consternation.     Should  the  enemy  overtake   us,  and 

fe  get  the  better  of  them  in  an  encounter ;  yet  being  so 

»r  advanced    into  their   country,  where  no  reinforcement 

kould  possibly   relieve   us,   and    where   they  could  be  sup- 

)rte(i  by  any  number  they   pleased,  afforded  us  little  hopes 

kf  escaping  their  hands.      Our  boa:s  being  taken,   cut   off" 

Ul  hope  of  a  retreat  by  them ;  besides,  the  loss  of  our  pro- 

[isions  left  with  them,  of  which  we  knew  we  should  have 

reat  need  at  any  rate,  in  case  we  survived,  was  a  melan- 

aolly  consideration.     It  was,  however,  resolved  to  prose- 

ite   our   design    at   all    adventures,   and,    when   we  had 


- 

* 

1 

^ 

■  i 

146     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

accomplished  it,  to  attempt  a  retreat  (the  only  possible  wa,  | 
we  could  think  of)  by  way  of  No.  4;  and  that  we  miali; 
not  be  destroyed  by    famine  in  our  return,  I  dispatcie:! 
Lieut.  M'Mullen  by  land  to  Crown  Point,  to  desire  of  tht 
General  to  relieve  me  with  provision  at  Amonsook  River, 
at  the  end   of  Cohase   Intervales*  on  Connecticut  Rive:, 
that  being  the  way  I  should  return,  if  at  all,  and  the  plact 
appointed   being   about   sixty   miles    from  No.  4,  then  tht 
most  northerly  English  settlement.     This  being  done,  wtl 
determined  if  possible  to  outmarch  our  pursuers,  and  etfec;! 
our  design  upon  St.  Francis  before  they  could  overtake  uJ 
We  marched  nine  days  through  wet,  sunken  ground ;  m 
water  most  of  the  way  near  a  foot  deep,  it  being  a  spructl 
bog.     When  we  encamped   at  night,  we  had  no  wavtcl 
secure  ourselves   from  the  water,  but  by  cutting  the  bow![ 
of  trees,  and  with   them   erecting  a  kind   of  hammochl 
We  commonly  began  our  march   a   little  before   day,  antl 
continued  it  till  after  dark  at  night. 

The  tenth  day  after  leaving  Misisquey  Bay,  we  c-mecl 
a  river  about  fifteen  miles  above  the  town  of  St.  Fraiicisrr 
the  south  of  it;  and  the  town  being  on  the  opposite o:| 
east  side  of  it,  we  were  obliged  to  ford  it,  which  ml 
attended  with  no  small  difficulty,  the  water  being  five  feci 
deep,  and  the  current  swift.  I  put  the  tallest  men  oil 
stream,  and  then  holding  by  each  other,  we  got  over  witrl 
the  loss  of  several  of  our  guns,  some  of  which  we  recoverf;] 
by  diving  to  the  bottom  for  them.  We  had  now  good  linl 
ground  to  march  upon,  and  discovered  and  destroyed  ti;i 
town  as  before  related,  which  in  all  probability  would  had 
been  effected  with  the  loss  of  no  man  but  the  Indian  ul) 
was  killed  in  the  action,  had  not  my  boats  been  discover 
and  our  retreat  that  way  cut  ofF. 


*  Variously  writtien  ai  Cohan,  Cohos,  Coo$,  etc.,  referring  to  the  meaici 
along  the  Upper  Connecticut  Valley  in  the  present  ^county  ot"  Cuus,  Ni* 
Hampshire. 


Tinr 


Journais  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      147 


This  nation  of  Indians  was  notoriously  attached  to  the 
[French,  and  had  for  near  a  century  past  harrassed  the 
frontiers  of  New  England,  killing  people  of  all  ages  and 
»exes  in  a  most  barbarous  manner,  at  a  time  when  they 
lid  nof  in  the  least  expect  them ;  and  to  my  own  knowl- 
tdi'C,  in  six  years'  time,  carried  into  captivity,  and  killed, 
}n  the  before  mentioned  frontiers,  400  persons.  We  found 
|n  the  town  hanging  on  poles  over  their  doors,  &c.,  about 
ioo  scalps,  mostly  English. 

The  circumstances  of  our   return  are  chiefly  related  in 

[he   preceding    letter ;    however,   it   is  hardly    possible    to 

jescribe  the  grief  and  consternation  of  those  of  us  who 

ime  to  Cohase  Intervales.     Upon  our  arrival  there  (  after 

ko  many  days'  tedious  march  over  steep,  rocky  mountains, 

|)r  through  wet,  dirty  swamps,  with  the  terrible  attendants 

)f  fatigue  and   hunger  )  to  find  that  here  was  no  relief  for 

|is,  where  we  had  encouraged  ourselves  that  we  should  find 

t,  and  have  our  distresses  alleviated  ;    for  notwithstanding 

le  officer  I  dispatched  to  the  General  discharged  his  trust 

ith  great   expedition,  and   in    nine  days  arrived  at  Crown 

roint,  which  was  an   hundred  miles  through  the   woods, 

[nd  the  General,  without  delay,  sent    Lieut.   Stephens  to 

lo.  4,  with  orders  to  take  provisions  up   the   river  to   the 

Jlace  I  had  appointed,  and  there  wait  as  long  as  there  was 

ly  hopes  of  my   returning  ;  yet  the  officer  that  was  sent 

ting  an  indolent  fellow,  tarried  at  the  place  but  two  days, 

rhen  he  returned,  taking  all  the  provisions  back  with  him, 

bout  two  hours  before  our  arrival.     Finding  a   fresh    fire 

irning  in  his  camp,  I  fired  guns  to  bring  him  back,  which 

ins  he   heard,  but  would  not  return,  supposing  we   were 

enemy.* 

t  *  This  Gentleman,  for  this  piece  of  conduct,  was  broke  by  a  general  court- 
irtial,  an]  rendered  incapable  of  sustaining  any  office  in  his  Majesty's  service 

the  future  :  a  poor  reward,  however,  for  the  distresses  and  anguish  thereby 
casioneJ   tu  so  many   brave  men,  to  some  of  which   it   proved    fatal,  they 

ually  dying  with  hunger. — Note  by  the  jiuthor. 


148     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 


Our  distress  upon  this  occasion  was  truly  in(;xpressiM(; 
our  spirits  greatly  depressed  by  the  hunger  and  fatigues wt 
had  already  suffered,  now  almost  entirely  sunk  within  uJ 
seeing  no  resource  left,  nor  any  reasonable  ground  to  how 
that  we   should  escape  a  most  miserable  death   by  famint, 
At  length  I  came  to  a  resolution  to  push  as  fast  as  possis!;! 
towards    No.   4,   leaving  the   remains   of  my  party,  no» 
unable  to  march  further,  to  get  such  wretched  subsistenc; 
as   the   barren  wilderness  could   afford,*   till    I   could  gc; 
relief  to  them,  which  I  engaged  to  do  within  ten  days. 
with  Capt.  Ogden,  one  Ranger,  and  a  captive  Indian  bov,| 
embarked  upon  a  raft  we  had  made  of  dcy  pine-trees.    Thel 
current  carried   us  down  the  stream   in  the  middle  of  tlit) 
river;  where  we  endeavoured  to  keep  our  wretched  ves>^[ 
by  such  paddles  as  we  had  made  out  of  small  trees  or  spirol 
split    and    hewed.     The   second   day    we    reached  VVhitfl 
River  Falls,  and  very  narrowly  escaped  being  carried  ()vt;[ 
them  by  the  current.      Our  little  remains  of  strength  howl 
ever  enabled   us  to  land,  and   to  march  by  them.     At  ttiJ 
bottom  of  these  falls,  while  Capt    Ogden  and  the  Raneefl 
hunted  for   red   squirrels  for  a   refreshment,  who  had  tkil 
good  fortune  likewise  to  kill  a  partridge,  I  attempted  m 
forming  a  new  raft  for  our  further  conveyance.      Being  nJ 
able  to  cut  down  trees,  I  burnt  them  down,  and  then  buKj 
them  off  at  proper  lengths.    This  was  our  third  day's  vvo.'i| 
after  leaving  our  companions.     The  next  day  we  got  oJ 
materials   together,   and   compleated  our  raft,  and  floatel 
with  the  stream  again   till   we   came   to  Wattockquitcht| 
Falls,  which   are  about  fifty   yards  in    length  ;    here  wl 
landed,  and  by  a  weath  made  of  hazel  bushes,  Capt.  OgdcJ 


*  This  was  ground-nuts  and  lilly  roots,  which  being  cleaned  and  troileJ '] 
■erve  to  preserve  life,* and  the  use  and  method  oF  preparing  which  I  tauj;h:r| 
Lieut.  Grant,  commander  of  the  party. 

^Nott  ty  the  Author, 


.dumumm 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      149 

ield  the  raft,  till  I  went  to  the  bottom,  prepared  to  swim 
and  board  it  when  it  came  down,  and  if  possible  paddle 
|t  ashore,  this  being  our  only  resource  for  lite,  as  we  were 
l»ot  able  to  make  a  third  raft  in  case  we  had  lost  this.   I  had 
good   fortune   to   succeed,   and    the  next    morning  we 
ibarked  and   floated  down   the  stream   to  within  a   small 
distance  of  No.  4,  where  we  found   some  men  cutting  of 
limber,  who  gave  us  the  first  relief,  and  assisted  us  to  the 
3rt,  from  whence   1  despatched   a  canoe  with   provisions, 
rhich  reached  the  men  at  Cohase  four  days  after,  which 
Igreeable  to   my  engagement)  was   the   tenth  after  I    left 
liem. 
Two  days  after  my  arrival  at  No.  4,  I  went  with  other 
inoes,   loaded  with   provisions,    up  the   river   myself,  for 
w  the  relief  of  others  of  my  party  that  might   be  coming 
that  way,*  having  hired  some  of  the  inhabitants  to  assist 
in  this  afl^air.      I    likewise  sent    expresses   to  Suncook 
jd   Pennecook    upon    Merrimack    River,  that    any  who 
kould  chance  to  straggle  that  way  might  be  assisted  ;  and 
revisions  were  sent  up  said  rivers  accordingly. 
[On  my  return  to  No.  4,  I  waited  a  few  days  to  refresh 
:h  of  my  party  as   I  had    been  able   to  collect   together, 
during  my  stay  there  received  the  following  letter  from 
fneral  Amherst,  in  answer  to  mine  of  Nov.  5. 

"Sir,  Crown  Pointy  Nov.  8,   1759. 

[*'  Captain  Ogden   delivered   me  your   letter  of  the  5th 

tant,  for  which    I  am   not  only  to  thank  you,   but   to 


I  met  several   different  parties;  as  Lieut.  Curgill,  Lieut.  Campbell,  Lieut. 

Ington,  and  Serjeant  Evans,  with  their  respective  division  ,  and  sent  canoes 

hiT  up  for  the  relief  of  such    as  might  be  still   behind,   and  coming    this 

Somj    I    met    who  escaped    from    Dunbar's  and   Turner's  party,   who 

overtaken  (being  upwards  of  twenty  in  number)  and  were  mostly  killed 

ken  by  the  enemy. 

— Note  by  the  Author. 


150     yournais  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


assure  you  of  the  satisfaction  I  had  on  reading  it  ;  as  evm 
step  you   inform  me  you  have  taken,  has  been   very  wtii 
judged,   and  deserves   my  full   approbation.       lam   sorrv 
Lieut.  Stephans  judged  so  ill  in  coming  away  with  the  priv 
visions  from  the  place  where  I  sent  him  to  wait  for  you. 

"  An  Indian  is  come  in  last  night,  and  said  he  had  lf!!| 
tome  of  your  party  at  Otter  River,  I  sent  for  them  \  thtv 
are  come   in.     This  afternoon  four  Indians,  two  Rangers, I 
a  German  woman,  and  three  other  prisoners  ;  they  (luitw 
four  of  your  party  some  days  since,  and  thought  thev  hac 
arrived  here.*     I  am  in  hopes  all  the  rest  will  get  in  very 
safe.     I   think   there  is  no  danger   but  they  will,  as  yoil 
quitted  them  not  till  having  marched  eight  days  in  a  bodv 
the  only  risk  after  that  will   be  meeting   hunting  partieil 
I  am,  Sir, 

Your  humble  servant, 
To  Major  Rogers.  Jeff.  Jmhent. 

A.S  soon  as  my  party  were  refreshed,  such  as  were  abitl 
I  marched  to  Crown  Point,  where  I  arrived  Dec.  i,  rjJ 
and   upon    examination  found,   that   since  our  leaving  ihtl 
ruins  of  St.  Francis,  I  had    lost  three  officers,   viz.   LieuJ 
Dunbar  of  Gage's    Light    Infantry,   Lieut  Turner  of  m 
Rangers,  and  Lieut.  Jenkins  of  the  Provincials,  and  fortv 
six   sergeants  and    privates.     The   Rangers  at  that  p,ac;| 
were  all  dismissed   before  my   return,  excepting   two  con^l 
panies,  commanded  by  Captains  Johnson  and  Tute  f,  wq 
whom  I  found   orders  left  by    the  General   for  me  to  cor'j 
tinue  at  that   garrison   during  the   winter,  but   had   leav^ 
however   to  go  down  the  country,  and  to  wait  upon 
Excellency  at  New  York. 

•Upon  our  leparation,  lomc  of  the  divisions  were  ordered  to  niJ«c; 
Crown  Point,  that  Wng  tbe  best  route  for  hunting. — Note  by  tht  Au;h:r 

f  Capt.  Tute,  who  had  been  taicen  prisoner,  was  returned  by  a  Hi^  or'tis 
while  I  waa  gone  to  St.  Francis. 


journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,      i  5  i 

After  giving  in  my  return  to  the  General,  and  what 
intelligence  I  could  of  the  enemy's  situation,  he  desired 
me,  when  I  had  leisure,  to  draw  a  plan  of  my  march  to  St. 
Francis  ;  and  then,  by  his  order,  I  returned  by  the  way  of 
Albany;  which  place  I  left  the  6th  of  February,  1760, 
with  thirteen  recruits  I  had  inlisted  j  and  the  13th,  on  my 
way  between  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  my  party  was 
attacked  by  about  sixty  Indians,  who  killed  five,  and  took 
four  prisoners.  I,  with  the  remainder,  made  my  escape  to 
Crown  Point,  from  whence  I  would  have  pursued  them 
i  immediately  ;  but  Col.  Haviland,  the  commanding  officer 
i  there,  judged  it  not  prudent,  by  reason  the  garrison  at  that 
time  was  very  sickly.*  I  continued  at  Crown  Point  the 
[remainder  of  the  winter. 

On  the  31st  of  March,  Capt.  James  Tute,  with  two 
jregular  officers  and  six  men,  went  out  a  scouting,  and  were 
[all  made  prisoners  ;  the  enemy  was  not  pursued,  on  ac- 
jcount  of  the  sickness  of  the  garrison. 

The  same  day  I  received  from  General  Amherst  the 
|following  letter. 

Sir,  Ntiv  Tork^  March  i,  1760. 

"The   command  I  have    received  from  his    Majesty,  to 
pursue  the  war  in  this  country,  has   determined  me,  if  pos- 


My  uwn  sley  was  taken  with  1 196/.  York  currency  in  cash,  besiiies  stores 
[)tl  utlii:rt  necessaries  \  800/,  ot  this  money  bchmged  to  the  crown,  which  was 
ifterward,-  .illoweil  mv.,  the  remaining  Jy6/,  was  my  own,  which  I  entirely 
Ut. — Niitf  by  tki   yiulhcr 

Colonel  Haviland  was  the  same  who  had  sent  Ro^'rrs  out  in  March,  1758, 
lith  a  sm.ill  force,  when  he  knew  .1  superior  one  awaited  him.  It  it  rcmaikcd 
Mr.  Stark  that  this  officer  was  one  ot  tl1.1t  jori  ot"  men  who  maiiagr  to 
piipc  pulilic  censure,  let  them  do  what  they  will.  "  He  was  orn*  ot  the  many 
ritish  Othcers  who  were  meanly  jealous  of  the  daring  achievements  of  their 
rave  American  comrades,  but  toi  whose  intrepidity  and  ariluous  services  all 
be  British  armies  sent  to  America,  during  the  Seven  Yeats  War,  would  have 
Betted  little  towards  the  cunqueit  of  Canada." 

—  Stari'i  Memoir,^  p,  454. 

16 


i      t 


152      'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


sibie,  to  complete  the  companies  of  Rangers  that  wtie 
foot  last  campaign;  and  as  Capt.  Wait  called  upon  m.\ 
yesterday,  and  represented  that  he  could  easily  conipleitl 
the  one  he  commands  in  the  colony  of  Connecticut  and  ti>;j 
Province  of  the  Massachuset's  Bay,  I  liavc  furnished  Inn;  I 
with  beating  orders  for  that  purpose,  as  also  with  a  war. 
rant  for  800  dollars  on  account  of  that  service. 

"  This  day  I  have  wrote  to  Capl.  John  Stark  in  Nc»j 
Hampshire,  and  Cspt.  David  Brewer  in  the  Massachusei'i 
Bay,  inclosing  to  each  of  them  a  beating  order  for  the  respccl 
live  provinces-,  and  I  herewith  send  you  a  copy  of  the  instrui 
tions  that  accompany  the  same,  by  which  you  will  see  thcil 
are  ordered,  as  fast  as  they  get  any  number  of  men,  to  $en:| 
them  to  Albany,     i  am,  Sir, 

Your  humble  servant 

To  Major  Rogers.  'Jeff'.  Amhern 

My  answer  to  the  above. 

"Sir,  Crown  Pointy  March  15,  1  ;f;: 

'*  1    received    your    Excellency's    letter    dated    the 
instant,  together  with  a  copy  of  your  instructions  to  Capl 
John  Stark  and  Capt.  David  Brewer,  whereby  I  Icarii  tf/ 
they  are  to  be  at  Albany  by  the  ist  of  May  next  with  ihH 
companies.     Since    I  received   intelligence  from   your  Eij 
cellency  that  the  Rangers  are    10  be  raised    again,  1  '^^i 
wrote  to  several  of  my  friends  in  New  Kiiglanc,  \yh^^j 
assist  then)  in  conipleating  their  companies  \   and  as   nari 
of  the    men    belonging   to   the    iwo   coii\panies    hcu  wfl 
frost-bitten   in  the  winter,  and  others  sick,  manv  "I  w^^* 
I  judged  would  not  be  fit  for  service  the  ensuing  eaiiipiiiii 
I  employed  Lieut.  M'Cormack,  of  Capt.  William  Staik^ 

*  William  Stark  wai  thf  elder  brother  of  tlen  John  Stark,  of  the  n\^<. 
He  servrti  as  i  piovinciiil  otiicei  at  Ticuiidciuga,  L>iuisbur|;h  aa>l  <^j(!'-' 
4t  th»  he|(innin(;  uf  the  rcvulutitui  applied  fur  a  cummuitd  in  a  N<v^  H-m,' 


metu  to  sckI 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  R'tgen.      153 

company  (that  was  with  Major  Scott)  Lieut.  John  Fletcher, 
and  one  Holmes,  and  sent  them  recruiting  the  20th  of 
February  for  my  own  and  Captain  Johnson's  company,  and 
advanced  them  11 00  dollars.  These  three  recruiters  I  do 
not  doubt  will  bring  good  men  enough  to  complete  us  here  i 
so  that  those  who  are  frost-bitten  may  be  sent  to  hospitals, 
and  those  unfit  for  duty  discharged  or  otherwise  disposed 
of,  as  your  Excellency  shall  direct. 

There  being  so  few  Rangers  fit  for  duty  here,  and  those 

that  are  much  wanted  at  this  place,  has  prevented   i«c  from 

[proposing  any  tour   to  the  French  and    Indian    settlcnients 

in  pursuit  of  a  prisoner,  which  may,  1  believe,  be  easily  got 

at  any  time,  if  sent  for.      I  am.  Sir, 

Your  Excellency's 

most  obedient  humble  servant., 

R.  Rogers. 
[To  Geural  Amherst. 

A  letter  from  General  Amherst. 
"Sir,  Nnu  Torky  9th  March^  1760. 

"  As  I  have  not  heard  that  either  of  the  Jacobuses,  who 
each  conmianded  a  company  of  Stockbridgc   Indiana   the 

n',  campaign,  are  returried  from  their  captivity,  1  would 
Javc  you  write  (if  you  think  Lieut.  Solomon  capable  ot  and 
it  for  such  a  command)  to  him,  to  know  if  he  chuses  to 
jiit-cpt  of  the  same  j  but  it  must  hi  upon  condition  of 
irm^'ing  to  the  field  none  but  suhh.  men,  that  an-  well  in- 
clined, and  that  are  hale  and  stiong.  Whatever  nutpber 
or  any  of  his  friends  cm\  raise  that  will  answer  this 
cscription,   I  will    readily  employ  this  summer,  and  thcv 

iiiient,  Diiappuinted  in  thii  he  becime  dii({uite.l  wilti  the  oute,  joined 
Mnemyat  New  Yurk,  was  appointed  »  toloticl,  and  lukt  hii  lite  by  l>ein»;  thrown 
1,1:  a  iuirif.  Hr  was  prosciilted  and  hi»  estates  wen  lonhsi  itid  by  an  act  of 
t  l<>;i%laiuie  ut  New  Hampshire  dated  Nov.  zH,  tTjty  ami  in  anutht-t  act 
Kc^  June  15,  1779.     H>*  """  J"^"  becanu  an  aAccr  in  the  Oritiith  army 


1^4     journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

shall  meet  wi*h  all  the  encouragement  their  services  shall 
merit.  All  others  that  are  too  old  or  too  young,  I  shall 
reject,  nor  shall  I  make  them  any  allowance  of  payment, 
altho'  they  should  join  the  army;  so  that,  in  order  to  pre- 
vent his  having  any  difference  with  these  people,  it  will 
behove  him  to  engage  none  but  what  sha!!  i}e  esteemed 
fit  for  the  service  ;  he  must  also  observe  to  be  asseinMcd 
with  them  at  Albany  by  the  ist  of  May  at  furthest,  from 
which  day  he  and  they  shall  be  entitled  to  their  pay,  thai 
is,  for  so  many  as  shall  be  mustered  there,  and  for  no  more; 
he  must  likewise  take  care  that  every  man  comes  provided 
with  a  good  Hrelock,  and  that  they  be  always  ready  to 
march  at  a  moment's  warning,  wherever  they  are  ordered 
to,  in  default  of  which  they  shall  forfeit  their  pay  that  shall 
be  due  to  them  at  that  time.  All  this  you  will  explain  to 
him  particularly,  and  so  soon  as  you  receive  his  answer, 
inform  me  thereof.  As  an  encouragement  to  enter  the 
service  upon  the  foregoing  conditions,  you  may  assure  him 
also,  that  if  he  conforms  to  them  in  every  respect,  aoii 
that  he  and  his  men  prove  useful,  they  shall  be  better  re- 
warded than  they  have  yet  been. 

Capt.    Ogden   having   solicited   me   for    a   company  ui 
Rangers,  assured  me  that   he  could   raise  and  complete  a 
very  good  one  in  the  Jersies  ;   I  have  given  him  a  hcatii^ 
order  for  that  purpose,  and   instructions  similar  to  thoie! 
sent  you  a  copy  of  in  my  last  for  Captains  Stark  and  Hn-wa. 
and  have  uUo  granted  him  a  warrant  for  Hve  hundred  dollart,] 
on   Account  of  the    bounty-money,  to   be  as  usual    stoppec 
out  of  the  tirst  warrant  for  the  subsistence  of  that  compaiii 
I  am.  Sir, 

Your  humble  servant. 
To  Major  Rogers.  JfJ/.  Jmhtni.' 

My   Letter  to  the  Gencial. 
"Sir,  Crown  Pointy  20th  March^  17^0 

"1  observe  the  contents  of  your  Excellency's  letter 


journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      155 


the  iQih.  and  shall  take  particular  care  to  let  Lieut.  Solo- 
mon know  every  circumstance  relative  to  his  being  em- 
ployed the  next  summer,  and  to  advise  your  Excellency  as 
soon  as  I  hear  from  him.  He  has  alreavly  informed  me  he 
would  be  glad  to  engage  with  some  Indians. 

"  Mr.  Stuart,  the  Adjutant  of"  the  Rangers,  who  is  at 
Albany,  I  have  desired  to  go  to  Stockbridge,  to  deliver 
Solomon  his  orders,  and  to  explain  them  properly   to  him. 

*'  I  am  heartily  glad  that  your  Excellency  hath  been 
pleased  to  give  to  Capt  Ogden  a  cimpany  of  the  Rangers, 
who,  from,  the  good  character  he  bears,  i  doubt  not:  will 
answer  your  expectations. 

''  Inclosed  is  a  sketch  of  my  travels  to  and  from  St. 
Francis.     I  ar»^,  Sii, 

Your  Excellency's  most  humble  servant, 
Tir  (General  Amherst.  R.  Rogtn." 

The  General's   Letter  to  me. 
"SiiJ,  Art'-'  Torky  6th  ^pr/V,  1760. 

"  I  am  to  own  the  receipt  of  your  letters  of  the  15th  and 
20th  ultimo,  and  to  approve  what  you  therein  mention  to 
have  done  for  completing  your  and  Capt.  Johnson's  com- 
pany \  as  also  your  having  sont  Adjutant  Stuart  to  Stock- 
hiidge,  to  deliver  Solomon  his  orders,  and  to  explain  them 
properly  to  him.  This  will  avoid  all  mistakes,  and  enable 
you  the  sooner  to  inform  me  of  Solomon's  intentions,  which 
I  shall  be  glad  to  know  a<  soon  as  possible. 

"  I  (hank  you  for  your  sketch  of  your  travels  to  and 
from  St.  Francis,  and  am,  Sir, 

Your  very    humble  servant, 
T'j  Mufor  Rogers.  Jeff,  yfmhfrst." 

So()n  after  this  I  had  the  pleasure  of  informing  the  (ien- 

[eral  that  the   Stockbridgc  Indians   determined  to  enter    the 

service  this  year  j  but  as  many  of  them  were  out  a  hunting, 


156      'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 


that  they  couUi  not  he  collected  at  Albany  before  the  iotho* 
May  ;  and  that  the  recruits  of  the  ranging  companies  hegar 
to  asstmhie  at  Crown  Point. 

May  4,  1760.  This  day  Serjeant  Beverly,  who  hac 
been  taken  prisoner,  and  made  his  escape,  came  iti  sever. 
days  from  Montreal  to  Crown  Point  He  had  lived  at  tht 
Governor's  (Monsieur  de  Vaudreuil)  house,  and  hnugh: 
the  following  intelligence,  which  I  immediately  trans 
niitted  to  the  General,  viz : 

"  That  about  the  loth  of  April,  the  enemy  withdrew  a! 
their  troops  from   Nut  Island,  excepting  300,  which  thn 
left   there  to  garrison    the  place,    under   the   commatu! 
Monsieur  IJonville  :  that  the  enemy  also  brought  from  the | 
island  one  half  f)f  the  ammunition  they  had  there,  and  hal; 
of  the  cannon  :   that  the  enemv  had  two  frigates,  one  ofjt 
guns,  the  other  of  20  guns,  that  lay  all  winter  in  the  rive; 
St.  Lawrence,  and  some  other  small  vessels,  such  as  row- 
galleys,  &c.,  that  all  the  troops  of  France  in  Canada  wer;j 
down   to   Jecorty  the  20th  of  April,  except    those   left  i\ 
garrison  their  fort,  which  was  very  slenderly  done,  togethel 
with   all  the  militia  that  could  be  spared  out  of  the  couiitn,[ 
leaving   only  one  man  to  two  females  to  sow  their  grair 
where  they  were  assembled  by  Monsieur  Levy,  then  (jer.I 
eral,  with  an   intent   to  retake  Quebec  *  :  that  ninety>ii| 
men  of  the  enemy  were  drowned  going  down  to    ftcortv 
that    he    saw  a  man   who   was  taken   prisoner   the    15th (I 
April,   belonging  to  our  troops   at  Quebec  :  that    this  nir| 
told  him  our  garrison  there  was  healthy  j  and  that  Biigiiicj 
General    Murray   had  4000    me  ;   fit   for  duty  in    tht  citTJ 
besides  a  post  of  300  men  at  Point  Levy,  which  the  cwm 
attempted  to  take  possession  of  in  the  month  of  P\'bru.if| 


*  Thin    place,   the  capitil  of  all   Canada,  had  been    taken  by   the  En|[i^ 
Irocpi  lait  year,  under  the  command  of  General  Wolfie. — Nute  by  iht  >:/i.wl 


■'"'^iiiBMl 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      1^7 


la>,t,  with  a  c»)nsiderah!c  body  of  troops,  and  began  to  for- 

tifv  a  church  at  or  near  the  Point,  but  that  General  Murray 

>erit  'wc(  a  detachment   of  about  1000  men,   which   drove 

(he  riiemv  from  post,  and  took  a  Captait^,  with  about  thirty 

French  soldiers,  prisoners,   and  fortified  the  church   for  his 

own  coveniencv  '■  that  the  (leneral  has  another  post  on  the 

iiorth-sidc  of  the  river  at  Laurat*  ,  a  little  distance  from  the 

lown,  in  which  he  keeps   300  men  :   that  there  is  a  line  of 

bltjck-houses  well   fortified  all  around  the  land-side  of  the 

town,   under  cover  of   the   cafinon  •   that  a    breast- work  of 

tra/iers  is  extended  from   one   block-house   to  another,  as 

lar  as  those  houses  extend  :   that  they   heard  at  (^irbec  of 

the  cnefny's  coming,  but  were  not  in  the  least  poncerned  : 

[that   a  detachment    from    (Quebec    surprised   two    of  the 

cnrrny'^  [guards,  at  a  place  called    Point  de  Treamble,  each 

jpuani  consisting  of  fifty  men,  and  killed  or  took  the  most 

put  of  them.     One  of  those  guards  were  all  granadiers." 

He  moreover  reports,   "  That  two   more  of  our  frigates 

jhad  got  up  the  river,  and  that   two  more  men  of  war  were 

near  the  Island  of  Orleans  :   that  the  French  told  him  that 

there  was  a  fleet  of  ten  sail  of  men  of  war  seen  at  Gaspee 

|H;iy,  with  some   transports,  but  put   back  to   sea  again   on 

accomu  of  the  ice  ;  but  as  they   had  up  different  colours, 

llhcv  could  not  tell  they  were  French  or  English  ;   that   the 

|biu;imiing  of  May  the  eiumy  was  to  draw  ot^'  2000  of  their 

jmcii  to  Nut   Island,  and  as   many   more  to   Oswagotchy  t- 

jhr  heard  that  they  did  not  intend  to  attack  Quebec,  except 

|t»ii'  French    fleet  gets    up  the  river    before   ours  :   that    lOO 

ladiaiis  were  to  come  this  way,  and  i.et  out  about  the  fifth 

)f  May  ;  the  remainder  ot  th<    Indians  wen-  at  present  gone 

l"  J'.'corty  .   that    (len.    I-.evy,    the    Altawawas,  and    Cold 

'untry    Indians,  will   all  be  in    CaiuUa   by  the  beginning 

'    Lorrlte 

•  Ouacn.burjjh,  NY. 


158      'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 


of  June,   ten  Sachems  beint»    sent  by   the  French    last  tall 
to  call  those  natiotis  to  their  assistance  :  that  a  y;reat  iiuin 
bar  had  deserted  to  the  French  from  the  battalion  of  Roval 
Americans  at  (Quebec,   which  the   French  have  engaged  1 
their  service  ;   hut  that    they  were  to  be  sent  ott",   under  thc| 
care  of  Monsieur  Boarhier,  up  to  Attawawas  River,  to  ih; 
French  colony  betwixt  the  lakes  and  the  Mississippi  Kivcr 
that  the  most   part  of  the  enemy's   Indians  are  intent  0 
going  there  ;   and  that  a  great  numbei  of  French,  espc(  ial'i 
those  who  have  money,  think   to  save  it   by   carryititj  it 
New    Orleans  :   that    he   saw    at    Montreal    two    Raiigcrsj 
Reynolds    anil  Hall,  that   were    returned  by  Col.  Havilin 
deserted    last    fall  :   that    they    were    taken    prisoners  nai 
River-head    Block-house,    when    after    catttle ;    that   iw 
more  Rangers  are  to  be  here  ui   ten  days  with  fresh  iiitel!  I 
gence    from    Montreal,   if   they    can    possibly    makr   thr 
escape  :   that     Monsieur  l^ongee,  the    famous  partisan,  wzj 
drowned  in  the  River  St.  Laurence,  a  few  days  after  here 
turned   with    the    party   that   took    Capt.    Tute  :  that  tti! 
Indians    have  a  great  eye  to   the  No.  4  roads,   as  they  sa. 
they  can  get  sheep  and  ox^n  comitig  here  f.om  that  place 
that  he  heard  Cien.  Murray  had  hanged  several  Canadiarl 
lately,  that  were  carrying  ammunition  out  of  Quebec  to  \\,\ 
enemy  ;   that  the  two  Captains  Jacobs  are  still  in  Canada | 
the  one  taken  with  Capt.  Kennedy   is  on  board  a  vessel  tl 
irons,   the   other  ran  away    last  fall,  but    returned,   havir.| 
froze  hrs  feet,  and  is  at  Montreal." 

A  fev;' days  after  this,  I  went  do».n  the  I^akc  Chainplatj 
to  reconnoitre  Nut  Island,  and  the  tiarrison  there,  the  Imi 
ing  places,  ^c.      On  my  return  from  that  service  to  Crow! 
Point,  I    had   an   order   from   C}en.    Amherst   to  repair  [ 
Albany,  the  head-(|uarters,  as  fast  as  possible. 

1  set  out,  in  obedience  to  this  order,  the    r8th  of  Maij 
and  wailed  upon  the  General  at  Albany  the  23d,  and  giK 


.I..M      ,         ■      ■■        .„..,->...^-.--..^,.....^H.|.- 


Journais  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      1 59 


hint  all  the  information  I  could,  in  regard  to  the  passage 
into  Canada  hy  the  Island  de  Noix,  or  Nut  Island,  and 
likewise  that  hy  Oswego  and  La  (iaiette*. 

I'he  (leneral  heing  acquainted  by  an  express  that  (Quebec 
Jwiis  then  besieged  by  the  French,  informed  me  of  his  in- 
tentions of  sending  me  with  a  party  into  Canada,  and  if  the 
iiC;;o  of  ^)uebec  was  continued,  to  destroy  their  country  as 
far  as  possible,  and  by  constantly  marching  from  one  place 
lo  another,  try  to  draw  oft' the  enemy's  troops,  and  prolong 
khc  siege  till  our  vessels  got  up  the  river.  He  strongly  re- 
:()iiiiTR'iuled,  and  ordered  me  to  govern  myself  according 
^0  the  motions  of  the  French  army  ;  to  retreat  if  they  had 
used  the  siege  ;  and  in  case,  by  prisoners  or  otherwise,  I 
ouhl  tind  the  siege  still  going  on,  to  harrass  the  country, 
lu'  it  were  at  the  expense  of  my  party.  I  had  at  the 
ime  time  the  following  instructions  from  him  in  writing: 

"  Major   Rogers,  you  are  to  take  under  your  command 

party  of  300  men,  composed  of  275  Rangers,  with  their 

kropcr  olfieers,  and  a  subaltern,  two  Serjeants,  and  twenty- 

ivc  men  ot  the  Light   Infantry  regiments  ;   with  which  de- 

ichnient  you  will  proceed  down  the  lake,  under  convoy 

bf  the  brig,  where  you    will    fix   upon    the  safest   and  best 

lace  for  laying  up  your  boats,  which  I  imagine  one  of  the 

klands  will  best  answer,  while  you  are  executing  the  follow- 

Ig  services. 

"  You  will  with  250  men  land  on  the  west-side,  in  such 
laiiiur  that  you  may  get  to  St,  John's  (without  the  enemy 

the  Isle  au  Noix  having  any  intelligence  of  it)  where 
1)11  will  try  to   surprize  the    fort,  and  destroy   the   vessels. 


r   (uleftc,  wak    tn    Indian   icttU-inent    on  the    north  b.ink  of   the  St.  L.iw- 
m  J  little   below   the   preient   town  of   I'reicott.      It    wa»    founded    by  the 
tilth,  for  the  Indiinii  of  the  Five  Nuion-  whom  tliey  had  [u-rsuadcd  to  emi- 
Itu  ma  :>cttlc  under  their  prutcctiun  in  Canada. 


i6o      'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


boats,  provisions,  or  whatever  elst-  may  be  there  for  tlK*  jx| 
of  the  troops  at  the   Isle  au   Noix.      You  will  then  iii.trr^ 
to   Fort  Chamble,  where  you  will  do  the  same,  and  vi. 
destroy  cveiy  maga/jne  you  can   find  in  that  part,  so  as  t 
distress  the  enemy  as  much  as  you  can.       This  will  ml 
be  known  at  the  Isle  au  Noix,  and  you  must  take  care  no; 
to  be  cut  ort  in  your  rctrcar ;   for  which   reason,   wh(  r.  w.l 
have  done  all  you  think  piacticahlf  on   the  western  suit, 
judge  your    best   and    safest   retreat   will   be,    to   cross  \k\ 
river    and    march    back    the    cast-»id«.    of    Isle    aux  Nouf 
When  you  land  on  the  west  side,  you  will  send  such  ui\ 
cer  with  the  fifty  Rangers,   as  you  think   will  best    uisttr 
their   intended   service,   whi(  h   is  to    march   for    Wii^wir 
iVlartini(]ue,  to  destroy  what  he  may  find   there  and  ontht 
east-side  of  the  river,  and  afterwards  to  join  y"n,  or  lortj 
treat  in  such   manner   as  you   will   dnect  him,      Yon  a 
take  such  provisions  as  you   judge  tiecessary    with  you,  jrJ 
fix  with  Capt.   Grant    (who  shall    have  orders   ti)  wait  i  , 
your    return)   the  places   where   he    may    look  out   for  \.\ 
when  you  come  back. 

'*  You  will  take  your  men  as  light  with  you  as  possih 
and  give  them  all  the  necessary  rauiion  for  the  comluci 
and  their  obedience  to  their  officers ;  no  firing  withocl 
order,  no  unnecessary  alarms,  no  retreating  without  J 
order  ;  they  are  to  stick  by  one  another  and  nothiiii:  oT 
hurt  them  i  let  every  man  whose  firelock  will  cany  if  hi.j 
a  bayonet  i  you  are  not  tt)  suffer  the  Indians  to  iK^': 
women  or  children,  no  pluiuler  to  be  taken  to  Ur.ul  ' 
men,  wl.o  shall  be  rewarded  at  their  return  as^they  'itx'xl 
A/tfV  25,  1760. 

Jef/'.  Amheni:' 

With  the  above  instructions  the  Cieneral  delivcici!  nd 
a  letter  uircctdy  to  General  Murray  at  (^ebec,  ticsiipj 
me  to  convey  it  to  him  in  such  manner  as  I  thought  ^nm 
be  quickest  and  safest. 


"Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      i6i 


Hiivinj^  leccivcfi  these  instructions  I  returned  ti)  Crown 
'oiiit  as  fast  as  possible,  and  about  the  beginning  ot  June 
ker  luit  from  thence  with  a  party  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 

I  *  down    Lake    Chaniplain,    having    four    vessels,   on 
iourd   of  which   this    detachment   embarked,    putting   our 
oat>  and  provisions  into  them,  that  the  enemy  might  have 
|es>  opportunity  of  discovering  our  designs. 

I'he  3d,  I  landed  Lieut.  Holmes  with  fifty  men  in  Mis- 
Ijiiuey  Bay,  and  gave  him  proper  directions  agreeable  to 
Tiy  oulcrs  from  the  General,  informing  him  that  one  of  the 
kloops  should  cruise  for  him  till  his  return,  which  upon  signals 
|h.it  were  given  him  would  take  him  in  board,  upon  which 
Jc  was  to  join  me  or  wait  on  board  till  my  return,  as  the 
kituation  of  atfairs  might  direct  him.  Here  likewise  I  sent 
[ht  letter  I  had  reserved  from  the  General  to  Brigadiei 
durrav,  thro'  the  woods,  and  gave  the  following  instruc- 
[iuiiN  to  the  officer  I  intrusted  with  it,  viz. 
Instruciions  for  Serjeant  Beverly  of  his  Majesty's  Rangers. 

"  You  are  hereby  directed  to  take  under  your  command, 
[hcsc  three  men,  viz.  John  Shutef,  Luxford  Goodwin,  and 


'  Thi-  SfDckhridge  Imlians    who  had  Keen    mustered    at,  and  now    marched 
Dtn  Albany,  and   who  werr  to  hv.  a  part  of  the  detachment  of"  jno,  a^;recablr 
ilie  (ienfral'i   orders,  had   not  .arrived   at  Crown   Point  at  the   time  of  my 
Ixrkatiiin,  but  were  ordered  to  foiiuw  after  .ind  join  nic. 

—  N'jtt  by  the  Author. 

i  Sduir  jnd    Easfm.in    were   both  from    Rumford,    N.  H.,    and  were  mesi 
^i',-\  through  the  vvar,  equally  distinguished  for  cntc.i)rise,  hardihood  an.i  valor. 
nbu  Shurc  wa>  the  son  of    [jcob  Shufe,  and    Kasttnan  horn    May  lo,    1710, 
>'  pmbalily  nephew  of  Ehcnerer,  an  I  son  i)f  Joseph  of  Salisbury. 
On  acrount  of  the  danger  and  difficulty  of  the  service,  the  distance  of  thU 
iHiniiy  itirouj;!!  the  wood.^    oeing  estimated  at  tivu  hurnired  miles,  a  reward  of 
li)     '^ '"   I'ffcred  f)r   any  four    who  would    volunteer.      Serjeant    Beverly    who 
»<1  bfen  t  priboner  and    escaped     from    C^anada    the  precedinj;   year,  with   the 
^rer  persons  named,  volunteered  for  the  lervice, 
A  iletailcd   account  of  the   juurney,  as   taken   down    fri^m  Mr.    Shute'i   lipi 
kuut  tilt  ytar  iSlo,  ii  given  in  Ikuton'i  Hiittry, 


■'\    I! 


162     'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

Joseph  Eastman,  and  march   them  from  Misis(]uey  iln, 
which  place  you  will   be  convoyed  by  l.ieut.    Holmes  w| 
a  party  I  have  sent  there  for  a  particular  purpose  ;  vou 
to  land  in   the    night-time,  as  otherwise  you    may    hi-  i. 
covered   by  a  party  from  the   Isle  au  Noix  ;  you   will  stf 
your   course   about  north-east,   and   make   all  the  dupi-j 
you  possibly  can  with  the  letter  in  your  charge  to  (^ie!y 
or  to  the  English  army  at  or  near  that  place,  and  dclur 
to    Brigadier    Murray,   or   to  the   officer   commanding 
Majesty's   forces  in    or  upon   the  river    St.  Lawrence, 
sketch    of  the   country    will   be   delivered  vou    with  thn 
orders,   that    you   may    the   better   know   the    consideraid 
rivers    you    have    to    cross,    betwixt    Misisquey    Bay  ij 
(^lebec.     The  distances  are  marked  in  the  draught,  as  is; 
road  I  travelled  in  last  fall,  from  Misisquey  Bay  to  St.  Fui 
cis,  which    road    vou  will   cross  several    times,  if  you  b 
the  course  I  before  directed.     The  rivers  are  so  plainlv 
scribed   in   the   plan,  that  you   will  know  them   whein:i 
come   to  them.     The   river  St.    Francis  is  about   h.ih-n 
of  your  journey,  and  is  very  still  water,  and  may  hi- nil 
rafted    where  you    cross  it  j  but    lower  down   it  is  m)  >»! 
and   rapid  that    you  must   not    attempt    it.     Shcdoir  h\ 
you  will   likewise  be    obliged  to  pass  on    a  raft  \  it  is  sJ 
water    for    some    miles   from   its    mouth  ;  you   had  bq 
examine  it  well    before  you  attempt  to  cross  it.      As 
as  you  pass  this  river,  steer  your  course  about  east,  Ica^i 
Point  Lew  on  your  left  hand,  and  fall  in  with  the  iivcr: 
Lawrence,  near  the  lower  end  of  the  Island  of  ()rlean>,j 
it  may  be  possible  that  Gen.    Murray  may   have  encmo 
the  army  either  at  the  isle  of  Orleans  or  the  isle  of  (Juoda 
therefore  you  are  not  to  depend    on  rtnding  at  once  the 
act  place  of  his   encampment,  but  are    postively  onlerfiij 
look    out  for*the    English  fleet,  and    ihv*  first  line  ot  iu^ 
ship  you   see,  you   are  to   venture  on   board,  as  1   ihiiikl 
not   possible  the   enemy  should  have  any  large  ship«  thci 


■•'*^'*^'""m 


journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      163 

Ind  whatever  English  ship  you  get  on  board  of,  will  convoy 
Ifou  directly  to  (icneral  Murray,  when  vou  will  deliver  him 

t»c  verbal  message  I  told  you.  You  may  apply  to  the 
Ijeneral  tor  fitty  pounds,  who  will  pay  it  to  you,  and  also 
live  you  proper  directions  to  join  me  as  soon  as  you  have 

tstcil  yourself  from  your  march.      I  wish  you  a  good  jour- 

ty,  and  am, 

Your's  &c. 
To  Serjeant  Beverley.  Robert  Rogers." 

As  soon  as  I  had  dispatched  the  two  parties  before- 
^fiitioncd,   I,    with   the   remainder,  crossed   Lake  Cham- 

liii  to  the  west-side,  and  the  4lh  in  the  morning  got  into 
ky  boats,  and  landed  with  about  200  men,  about  twelve 
ulcs  south  of  the  island  Noix,  with  an  intent  to  put  in  ex- 
pution  the  General's  orders  to  me  of  May  5th    with  all 

ced.  C'apt.  Grant  sent  the  two  sloops  to  attend,  which 
lordcrcd  to  cruize  further  ilown  the   lake  than   where   I 

ided,  and  nearer  to  their  fort,  to  command  the  attention 
the  enemy  till  I  could  get  into  their  country.  I  lay 
ill  all  the  5th,  there   being  a  heavy  rain,  and  the  bushes 

wet  that   both   we  and   our   provisions  would  have  been 

tally  exposed  by  a  march. 

In  the  afternoon  of  this  dav,  several  French  boats  ap- 

ired  on  the   Lake,  which   were  discovered   by   the  two 

>ops,  as  well  as  by  my  party  .on  the  shore.      These  boats 

nimud  a;,  near  as  they  could  to   our  vessels  without  en- 

igciing   themselves,  till    after    dark.     Concluding  their 

Its  would  cruize  the  whole   night    to  watch    the  motions 

uur  >luops,  I  imagined    it    would    be   a  prudent    step  to 

lid  the  sloops   back   to  Capt.   Grant,  the  commander  of 

pc  vessels,   who   lav    near    Mott    Island  ;    I   accordingly 

lilt  to  the  sloops  in  a  boat  after  dark,  and  ordered  them 

[return.     The  enemy,  who  kept  all  night  in  their  boats, 


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164     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


having,  by  a  strict  look-out,  discovered  where  I  landed, 
sent  a  detachment  from  the  ishnd  next  morning  to  cut  oJF 
my  party.  I  discovered  their  intentions  by  my  reconnoi- 
tering  parties,  who  counted  them  as  they  crossed  from  the 
fort  in  the  morning  in  their  boats,  to  the  west  shore,  and 
informed  me  that  they  were  350  in  number.  I  had  intel- 
ligence again  when  they  were  about  a  mile  from  us.  Half 
after  eleven  they  attacked  me  very  briskly  on  my  left, 
having  on  my  right  a  bog,  which  they  did  not  venture 
over,  thro*  which  however,  by  the  edge  of  the  lake,  I  sent 
seventy  of  my  party  to  get  round  and  attack  them  in  the 
rear.  This  party  was  commanded  by  Lieut.  Farrington. 
As  soon  as  he  began  his  attack,  I  pushed  them  in  front, 
which  broke  them  immediately.  I  pursued  them  with  the 
greatest  part  of  my  people  about  a  mile,  where  they  retired 
to  a  thick  cedar  swamp,  and  divided  into  small  parties. 
By  this  time  it  rained  agzin  very  hard.  I  called  my  party 
immediately  together  at  the  boats,  where  I  found  that  En- 
sign Wood  of  the  17th  regiment  was  killed,  Capt.  John- 
son wounded  through  the  body,  a  second  shot  thro'  his 
left  arm,  and  a  third  in  his  head.  I  had  two  men  of  the 
Light  Infantry,  and  eight  Rangers,  wounded,  and  sixteen 
Rangers  killed.  We  killed  forty  of  the  enemy,  and  re- 
covered about  fifty  firelocks.  Their  commanding  officer, 
Monsieur  la  Force,  was  mortally  hurt,  and  several  of  the 
party  were  likewise  wounded.  After  the  action  I  got  the 
killed  and  maimed  of  my  detachment  together  in  battoes, 
returned  with  them  to  the  Isle  a  Mot,  near  which  the  brig 
lay.  I  dispatched  one  of  the  vessels  to  Crown  Point,  on 
board  of  which  was  put  the  corpse  of  Mr.  Wood,  but 
Capt.  Johnson  died  on  his  passage  thither  ;  this  vessel  1 
ordered  to  bring  more  ^provisions.  1  buried  the  rest  of  the 
dead  on  an  island,  and  then  began  to  prepare  for  a  second 
landing ;  being  joined  about  this  time  by  the  Stockbridge 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      165 


Indian  Company,  I  was  determined  at  all  adventures  to 
pursue  my  orders,  settled  the  pkn  of  landing,  and  left  the 
following  instructions  with  Capt.  Grant,  viz  ; 

'*You  will  be  so  good  as  to  fall  down  tne  lake  with 
your  vessels  as  soon  as  possible,  as  far  as  the  Wind  Mill 
Point,  or  near  where  you  lay  at  anchor  the  last  time  I  was 
with  you,  and  cruize  near  it  for  two  or  three  days,  which 
will  be  the  only  method  I  can  think  of  that  has  any  ap- 
pearance of  attracting  the  attention  of  the  enemy  till  I  get 
into  their  country  ;  as  soon  as  I  observe  or  think  you 
pretty  near  the  Wind  Mill  Point,  I  shall  land  with  my 
party  on  the  west  side  opposite  to  the  north  end  of  the 
Isle  a  Mot,  in  the  river  that  runs  into  the  bay  which  forms 
itself  there,  and  from  thence  proceed  to  execute  the  Gen- 
eral's orders.  If  they  do  not  attack  me  in  my  march  till 
I  compleat  my  design,  you  may  be  certain  I  shall  come 
back  on  the  east  side,  and  endeavour  to  join  you  near  the 
Wind  Mill  Point,  or  betwixt  that  and  the  Isle  a  Mot. 
When  I  arrive,  the  signal  that  I  will  make  for  your  dis- 
covering me,  will  be  a  smoak  and  three  guns,  at  a  minute's 
interval  each  from  the  other,  and  repeated  a  second  time, 
in  half  an  hour  after  the  first ;  but  if  the  enemy  should  at- 
tack me  on  my  march  before  I  get  to  the  place  I  am  or- 
dered, which  I  believe  they  will  do,  in  case  I  am  worsted 
I  shall  be  obliged  to  come  back  on  the  west  side,  and  shall 
make  the  before  mentioned  signals  betwixt  the  Isle  a  Mot 
and  the  place  where  I  had  the  battle  with  the  enemy  the 
6th  instant.  It  is  uncertain  when  I  shall  be  at  either  shore 
so  that  I  would  recommend  it  to  you  not  to  come  back 
south  of  the  Isle  a  Mot  till  my  return,  as  a  contrary  wind 
might  prevent  your  getting  in  with  your  vessels  to  relieve 
me,  I  send  you  Serjeant  Hacket  and  ten  Rangers,  to  be 
with  you  in  my  absence,  as  we  this  day  agreed.  If 
Lieutenant  Darcy  comes  down  in  season  to  go  with  me, 


^arc: 


I   ' 


1 66      'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 

I  shall  leave  Ensign  Wilson  with  you  ;  but  if  Darcy  should 
not  come  till  after  I  land,  you'll  be  pleased  to  take  him  un- 
der your  direction,  as  well  as  all  those  that  may  come  with 
him  to  join  me  ;  tho'  I  would  recommend  it  not  to  send 
any  party  to  the  island,  to  take  a  prisoner,  till  the  fifth  day 
after  my  landing,  as  the  loss  of  a  man  from  us  may  be  of 
very  bad  consequence.  Lieutenant  Holmes  has  appointed 
between  the  eleventh  and  sixteenth  day  after  his  landing  for 
his  return  to  Misisquey  Bay,  and  from  the  eleventh  to  the 
sixteenth,  as  before  mentioned  ;  I  should  be  glad  the  sloop 
might  cruize  for  him  at  the  place  he  appointed  to  meet 
her.     I  am.  Sir, 

Your  humble  servant, 

R.  Rogers.'' 

I  cannot  but  observe  with  pleasure,  that  Mr.  Grant,  like 
an  able  officer,  very  diligently  did  all  that  could  be  ex- 
pected of  him  for  the  good  of  the  service,  carefully  attending 
with  his  vessels  till  my  return  from  this  second  excursion, 
on  which  I  embarked  with  two  hundred  and  twenty  men, 
officers  included,  and  landed  the  9th  of  June,  about  mid- 
night, on  the  west-shore  opposite  the  Isle  a  Mot,  from 
thence  marched  as  fast  as  possible  to  St.  John's,  and  came 
to  the  road  that  leads  from  it  to  Montreal,  about  two  miles 
from  the  fort,  the  evening  of  the  15th.  At  eleven  o'clock 
this  night,  I  marched  with  an  intent  to  surprise  the  fort, 
to  within  four  hundred  yards  of  it,  where  I  halted  to  re- 
connoitre ;  which  I  did,  and  found  they  had  more  men  than 
I  expected.  The  number  of  the  centries  within  the  fort 
were  seventeen,-  and  so  well  fixed,  that  I  thought  it  was 
impossible  for  me  to  take  the  place  by  surprise,  especially 
as  they  had  seen  me,  and  fired  several  guns  accordingly.  I 
left  it  at  two  o'clock,  and  marched  down  the  river  toi 
St.  d'Etrese;  at  break  of  day  I  reconnoitred  this  place, 
and  found  that  the  enemy  had  in  it  a  stockaded  fort,  de- 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,      itj 


M  should 
him  u ri- 
me with 

to  send 
fifth  day 
ay  be  of 
ippointed 
nding  for 
ith  to  tiie 
the  sloop 

to  meet 


irant,  liice 
lid  be  ex- 
r  attending 
excursion, 
enty  men, 
.bout  mid- 
_ot,  from 
and  came 
two  miles 
|en  o'clock 
le  the  fort, 
^Ited  to  re- 
men  than 
Im  the  fort 
ht  it  was 
especially 

dingly.    i 
le   river  to! 
jthis  place,  I 
;d  fort,  de- 


fensible against  small  arms.     I  observed  two  large  store- 
houses in  the  inside,  and  that  the  enemy  were  carting  hay 
into  the  fort.     I   waited  for  an  opportunity  when  the  cart 
had  just  entered  the  gate-way,  lun  forward,  and  got  into 
the  fort  before  they  could  clear  the  way  for  shutting  the 
gate.     I  had  at  this  time  sent  different  parties  to  the  sev- 
eral houses,  about  fifteen  in  number,  which  were  near  the 
fort,  and  were  all  surprised  at  the  same  instant  of  time,  and 
without  firing  a  single  gun.     We  took  in  the  fort  twenty- 
four  soldiers,  and  in  the  houses  seventy-eight  prisoners,  wo- 
men and  children  included  ;  some  young  men  made  their 
escape  to  Chamblee.     I  examined  the  prisoners,  and  found 
I  could  not   proceed   to  Chamblee  with    any   prospect  of 
success;  therefore  concluded  my   best  way   was    to  burn 
the  fort  and   village,  which    I   did,  together   with   a   con- 
siderable magazine  of  hay,  and  some  provisions,  with  every 
battoe  and   canoe,  except  eight   battoes   which   I  kept  to 
cross  the  river,  and  these  we  afterwards  cut  to  pieces:  wc 
also  killed  their    cattle,  horses,  &c.  destroyed  their  wag- 
gons, and  every  other  thing  which  we  thought  could  ever 
be  of  service  to  the  enemy.     When  this  was  done,  I  sent 
back  the  women  and  children,  and  gave  them  a  pass  to  go 
to  Montreal,  directed  to  the  several  officers  of  the  different 
detachments  under  my  command.     I  con  jnued  my  march 
on  the  east-side  of  Lake  Champlain,  and  when  passing  by 
Misisquey  Bay,  opposite  the  Isle  Noix,  my  advance-party, 
and  the  advance-party  of  about  800  French,  that  were  out 
after  me  from  their  fort,  engaged  with  each  other  ;  but  the 
body  of  the  enemy,  being  about  a  mile  behind  their  advance- 
party,  retreated,  to  my  great   satisfaction.     I  pursued  my 
march  with  all  possible  speed  :  and  the  same  day,  being  the 
20th  day  of  June,  arrived  at  the   lake   opposite  where  the 
vessels  lay  ;   and  as  I  had  sent  a  few  men  forward  to  repeat 
the  signals,  the  boats  met  us  at  the  shore.     We  directly 
put  on  board,  the  enemy  soon  after  appeared  on  the  shore 

»7 


\\ 


I 


\\ 


I 


1 68     yournals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

where  we  embarked.  I  had  not  at  this  time  any  account 
from  Lieutenant  Holmes,  either  by  prisoners  or  other- 
ways. 

Upon  examination  the  prisoners  reported,  (some  of  them 
had  been  at  the  siege  of  Quebec)  ''  that  the  French  lost 
five  hundred  men  there ;  and  that  they  retreated  after 
twelve  days  bombarding  and  cannonading,  and  came  to 
Jack's  quarters,  where  General  Levy  left  fiye  hundred  men, 
being  composed  of  a  picquet  of  each  battalion  of  the  army, 
and  that  there  were  four  hundred  Canadians  who  staid  vol- 
untarily'with  them  ;  that  the  rest  of  the  army  was  quar- 
tered by  two's  and  three's  on  the  inhabitants,  from  there  to 
St.  John's.  In  Montreal  there  are  about  a  hundred  and 
fifty  troops,  and  the  inhabitants  do  duty.  That  in  Cham- 
blee  Fort  are  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  including 
workmen  ;  and  the  remnant  of  the  Queen's  regiment  are 
in  the  village.  That  there  are  twelve  cannon  at  St.  John's, 
and  about  three  hundred  men,  including  workmen,  who  are 
obliged  to  take  arms  on  any  alarm.  That  at  the  Isle  au  Noix 
are  about  eight  hundred  stationed,  besides  the  scouts  be- 
tween that  and  Montreal.  That  there  are  about  an  hun- 
dred pieces  of  cannon  there."  This  is  the  substance  of 
their  report,  in  which  they  all  agree,  and  which,  with  an 
account  of  my  proceedings,  I  transmitted  to  the  Gen- 
eral. 

On  the  2ist  I  put  the  twenty-six  prisoners  on  board  one 
of  the  vessels,  with  fifty  men  of  my  detachment,  and  or- 
dered her  to  proceed  to  Crown  Point,  and  tarried  with  the 
other  vessels  to.  cover  Mr.  Holmes's  retreat,  who  joined 
us  the  same  evening,  without  having  succeeded  in  his  en- 
terprise, missing  his  way  by  following  down  a  river  that 
falls  into  Sorrel,  instead  of  that  called  Wigwam  Martinic, 
which  empties  itself  in^to  St.  Lawrence  at  Lake  St.  Francis. 
I  arrived  at  Crown  Point  the  23d  of  June,  and  encamped 
my  Rangers  on  the  east-shore,  opposite  the  fort. 


if- 


iccount 
other- 

of  them 
nch  lost 
ed  after 
came  to 
red  men, 
he  army, 
itaid  vol- 
ras  quar- 
1  there  to 
idred  and 
n  Cham- 
including 
iment  are 
It.  John's, 
,  who  are 
B  au  Noix 
couts  be- 
t  an  hun- 
istance  of 
1,  with  an 
the   Gen- 
board  one 
It,  and  or- 
with  the 
ho  joined 
]in  his  en- 
[river  that 
Martinic, 
[.  Francis, 
[encamped 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,      1 69 

The  following  letter  I  received  from  General  Amherst  *, 
dated  :sx.  Canijoharry,  June  26,  1760. 

"Sir, 

"Colonel  Haviland  sent  me  your  letter  of  June  21,  which 
I  received  last  night,  and  saw  with  pleasure  you  was  re- 
turned without  the  loss  of  a  man  of  your  party,  and  that 
you  had  done  every  thing  that  was  prudent  for  you  to  at- 
tempt with  the  number  of  men  you  had  under  your  com- 
mand. From  the  situation  the  enemy  is  now  in,  by  being 
forced  back  to  their  former  quarters,  on  Governor  Murray's 
having  obliged  them  to  abandon  their  cannon,  and  raise  the 
siege  of  Quebec,  I  hope  Lieutenant  Holmes  will  return 
with  equal  success  as  you  have  done.     I  am.  Sir, 

Your  humble  servant, 
To  Major  Rogers.  'J'ff'  Amherst** 

I  remained  at  Crown  Point  with  my  people,  without  ef- 
fecting any  thing  considerable,  more  than  in  small  parties 
reconnoitring  the  country  about  the  fort,  while  every  thing 
was  got  in  readiness  for  embarking  the  army  the  i6th  of 
I  August  i  which  was  done  accordingly,  having  one  brig,  three 
sloops,  and  four  rideaus,  which  latter  were  occupied  by  the 
royal  train  of  artillery,  commanded  by  Lieut.  Colonel  Ord. 
[Our  order  of  march  was  as  follows,  viz. 

Six  hundred  Rangers  and  seventy  Indians  in  whale-boats 
[in  the  front,  commanded  by  Major  Rogers,  as  an  advance- 
Iguard  for  the  whole  army,  all  in  a  line  a-breast,  about  half 
la  mile  a-head  of  the  main  body,  followed  by  the  light  in- 
Ifantry  and  grenadiers  in  two  columns,  two  boats  a-breast  in 
leach  column,  commanded  by  Col.  Darby.  The  right  wing 
Iwas  composed   of   Provincials,  commanded    by  Brigadier 

*  Gen.  Amherst  wag  at  this  time  on  his  way  to  Canada,  by  way  of  Oswego, 
ko  assist  in  finishing  the  conquest  of  the  French  in  that  province.  Can- 
Ijoiiirie  is  about  fifty-five  miles  west  of  Albany,  on  the  Mohawk.  * 


I     ■ 


i 


170     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

Ruggles,  who  was  second  in  command  of  the  whole  army. 
The  left  was  made  up  of  New  Hampshire  and  Boston 
troops,  commanded  by  Col.  Thomas.  The  seventeenth 
and  twenty-seventh  regiments,  with  some  few  of  the  Roy- 
als, that  formed  the  center  column,  were  commanded  by 
Major  Campbell  of  the  17th  regiment.  Col.  Haviland  was 
in  the  front  of  these  divisions,  between  that  and  the  light 
infantery,  and  grenadiers.  The  royal  artillery  followed  the 
columns,  and  was  commanded  by  Colonel  Ord,  who  had, 
for  his  escort,  one  Rhode  Island  regiment  of  Provincials. 
The  sutlers,  &c.  followed  the  artillery.  In  this  manner 
we  rowed  down  the  lake  forty  miles  the  first  day,  putting 
ashore  where  there  was  good  landing  on  the  west-side,  and 
there  encamped. 

The  day  following  we  lay  by.  The.  i8th,  the  windi 
blowing  fresh  at  south,  orders  were  given  for  embarking, 
and  the  same  day  reached  a  place  on  the  west  shore,  within 
ten  miles  of  the  Isle  a  Mot,  where  the  army  encamped.  It 
having  blown  a  fresh  gale  most  part  of  the  day,  some  of 
my  boats  split  open  by  the  violence  of  the  waves,  and  ten 
of  my  Rangers  were  thereby  drowned. 

The   19th  we  set  sail  again  early  in  the  morning,  and  I 
that  night  encamped  on  the  north-end  of  the  Isle  a  Mot. 

The  20th,  before  day,  the  army  was  under  way,  with  in- 
tention to  land  j  having  but  twenty  miles  to  go.,  and  havind 
the  advantage  of  a  fair  wind,  we  soon  came  in  sight  of  the 
French  fort,  and  about  ten  in  the  morning  Col.  Darby,! 
with  the  Grenadiers  and  Light  Infantry,  and  myself  witbj 
the  Rangers,  landed  on  the  east-shore,  and  marched  andj 
took  possession  of  the  ground  opposite  the  fort  on  that  side,[ 
without  the  least  opposition.  Having  done  this,  an  officer! 
was  sent  to  acquaint  Col.  Haviland  (who,  with  the  ref 
mainder  of  the  army,  was  at  the  place  where  we  landed)  thaj 
there  was  not  the  least  danger  to  apprehend  from  the  enemy.f 
The  next  day  we  b^gan  to  raise  batteries,  and  soon  afteil 


•s. 


journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,     tji 


lole  army, 
id  Boston 
venteenth 
the  Roy- 
landed  by 
viland  was 
\  the  light 
llowed  the 
,  who  had, 
'rovincials. 
lis  manner 
ay,  putting 
it-side,  and 


to  throw  some  shells  into  the  garrison.  About  the  24th 
proposal  was  made  for  taking  the  enemy's  vessels,  three  of 
which  weie  at  anchor  a  little  below  the  fort,  and  some  of 
their  rideaus  likewise.  It  was  introduced  by  Col.  Darby, 
who  was  ordered  to  take  the  command  of  the  party  ap- 
pointed for  this  service,  which  consisted  of  two  companies 
of  Regulars,  and  four  companies  of  my  Rangers,  with  the 
Indians.  We  carried  with  us  two  light  howitzers  and  one 
six-pounder,  and  silently  conveying  them  along  thro'  the 
trees,  brought  them  opposite  the  vessels,  and  began  a  brisk 
fire  upon  them,  before  they  were  in  the  least  apprised  of 
our  design,  and,  by  good  fortune,  the  first  shot  from  the 
six-pounder  cut  the  cable  of  the  great  rideau,  and  the  wind 
being  at  west,  blew  her  to  the  east  shore,  where  we  were, 
and  the  other  vessels  weighed  anchor  and  made  for  St. 
John's,  but  got  ail  aground,  in  turning  a  point  about  two 
miles  below  the  fort.  I  was,  by  Col.  Darby,  ordered  down 
the  east  shore  with  my  Rangers,  and  crossed  a  river  of 
about  thirty  yards  wide,  which  falls  into  Lake  Champlain 
from  the  east.  I  soon  got  opposite  the  vessels,  and,  by 
firing  from  the  shore,  gave  an  opportunity  to  some  of  my 
party  to  swim  on  board  with  their  tomahawks,  and  took 
ione  of  the  vessels  ;  in  the  mean  time  Col.  Darby  had  got 
on  board  the  rideau,  and  had  her  manned,  and  took  th6 
[other  two;  of  which  success  he  immediately  acquainted 
ICol.  Haviland,  who  sent  down  a  sufficient  number  of  meti 
to  take  charge  of  and  man  the  vessels ;  and  ordered  the 
remainder  of  the  Rangers,  Light  Infantry  and  Grenadiers, 
{to  join  the  army  that  night,  which  was  accordingly  done ; 
land  about  midnight  the  night  following  the  French  troops 
lieft  the  island,  and  landed  safe  on  the  main  ;  so  that  next 
jmorning  nothing  of  them  was  to  be  seen  but  a  few  sick, 
|and  Col.  Haviland  took  posession  of  the  fort. 

The  second  day   after  the   departure  of  Monsieur  Bon- 
Iville  and  his  troops  from  the  island,  Mr.  Haviland  sent  me 


1,72     'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


with  my  Rangers  to  pursue  him  as  far  as  St.  John's  Fort, 
which  was  about  twenty  miles  further  down  the  lake  ;  and 
at  that  place  I  was  to  wait  the  coming  of  the  army,  but  by 
no  means  to  follow  further  than  that  fort,  nor  run  any  risk 
of  advancing  further  towards  Montreal.  I  went  in  boats, 
and  about  daylight  got  to  St.  John's,  and  found  it  just  set 
on  fire.  I  pursued,  and  took  two  prisoners,  who  reported, 
"  That  Monsieur  Bonville  was  to  encamp  that  night  about 
halfway  on  the  road  to  Montreal  ;  and  that  he  went  from 
St.  John's  about  nine  o'clock  the  night  before  ;  but  that 
many  of  their  men  were  sick,  and  that  they  thought  some 
of  the  troops  would  not  reach  the  place  appointed  till  the 
middle  of  the  afternoon."  It  beinir  now  about  seven  in 
the  morning,  I  set  all  hands  to  work,  except  proper  guards, 
to  fortify  the  log  houses  that  stood  near  the  lake  side,  in 
order  that  part  of  my  people  might  cover  the  battoes,  while 
I,  with  the  remainder,  followed  Monsieur  Bonville,  and 
about  eight  o'clock  I  got  so  well  fortified,  that  I  ventured 
our  boats  and  baggage  under  the  care  of  200  Rangers,  and 
took  with  me  400,  together  with  the  two  companies  of 
Indians,  and  followed  after  the  French  army,  which  con- 
sisted of  about  1500  men,  and  about  100  Indians  they  had 
to  guard  them.  I  was  resolved  to  make  his  dance  a  little 
the  merrier,  and  pursued  with  such  haste,  that  I  overtook 
his  rear  guard  about  two  miles  before  they  got  to  their  en- 
camping ground.  I  immediately  attacked  them,  who  not 
being  above  200,  suddenly  broke,  and  then  stood  for  the 
main  body,  which  I  very  eagerly  pursued,  but  in  good 
order,  expecting  Monsieur  Bonville  would  have  made  a 
stand,  which  however  he  did  not  chuse,  but  pushed  forward 
to  get  to  the  river,  where  they  were  to  encamp,  and  having 
crossed  it,  pulled  up  the  bridge,  which  put  a  stop  to  my 
march,  not  judging  it  prudent  to  cross  at  a  disadvantage, 
inasmuch  as  the  enehiy  had  a  good  breast-work  on  the 
other  side,  of  which  they  took  possession  ;  in  this  pursuit. 


r. 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      173 


in's  Fort, 
lake  ;  and 
»v,  but  by 
n  any  risk 
t  in  boats, 
it  just  set 
reported, 
ight  about 
vent  from 
;  but  that 
ught  some 
td  till  the 
t  seven  in 
)er  guards, 
Ice  side,  in 
toes,  while 
iville,    and 
I  ventured 
,ngers,  and 
npanies  of 
rhich   con- 
is  they  had 
nee  a  little 
overtook 
their  en- 
who  not 
od  for  the 
Lit  in  good 
ve  made  a 
ed  forward 
nd  having 
top  to  my 
advantage, 
rlc  on  the 
is  pursuit, 


o 


however,  we   considerably   lessened   their  number,  and  re- 
turned in  safety. 

In  the  evening  Mr.  Haviland  came  in  sight,  and  landed 
at  St.  John's.  As  soon  as  he  came  on  shore,  I  waited 
upon  him,  and  acquainted  him  with  what  I  had  done,  &c., 
and  that  I  had  two  prisoners  for  him  ;  he  said  it  was  very 
well,  and  ordered  his  troops  to  encamp  there  that  night, 
and  next  day  went  down  the  river  Sorriel,  as  far  as  St. 
d'Etrese,  where  he  encamped,  and  made  a  strong  breast- 
work, to  defend  his  people  from  being  surprised.  I  was 
sent  down  the  river  Sorriel,  to  bring  the  inhabitants  under 
subjection  to  his  Britannic  Majesty,  and  went  into  their 
settled  country  in  the  night,  took  all  their  priests  and  mili- 
tia officers,  and  sent  some  of  them  for  the  inhabitants.  The 
first  day  I  caused  all  the  inhabitants  near  Chamblee  to  take 
the  oaths  of  allegiance,  &c,,  who  appeared  glad  to  have  it 
in  their  power  to  take  the  oaths  and  keep  their  posessions, 
and  were  all  extremely  submissive.  Having  obliged  them 
to  bring  in  their  arms,  and  fulfilled  my  instructions  in  the  best 
manner  I  could,  I  joined  Col.  Darby  at  Chamblee,  who 
came  there  to  take  the  fort,  and  had  brought  with  him 
some  light  cannon.  It  soon  surrendered,  as  the  garrison 
consisted  only  of  about  fifty  men.  This  happened  on  the 
first  of  September. 

On  the  2d-  our  army  having  nothing  to  do,  and  having 
good  intelligence  both  from  Gen.  Amherst  and  Gen.  Mur- 
ray, Mr.  Haviland  sent  me  to  join  the  latter,  while  he 
marched  with  the  rest  of  the  army  for  La  Pierre.  The  5th 
in  the  morning  I  got  to  Longville,  about  four  miles  below 
Montreal,  opposite  to  where  Brigadier  Murray  lay,  and 
gave  him  notice  of  my  arrival,  but  not  till  the  morning  of 
the  6th,  by  reason  of  my  arriving  so  late. 

By  the  time  I  came  to  Longville,  the  army,  under  the 
command  of  Gen.  Amherst,  had  landed  about  two  miles 


'it ' 


^1 


/  ' 


i! 


174     journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

from  the  town,  where  they  encamped  ;  and  early  this 
morning  Monsieur  de  Vaudreuil,  the  governor  and  com- 
mander in  chief  of  ail  Canada,  sent  otit  to  capitulate  with 
our  General,  which  put  a  stop  *~  all  our  movements  till 
the  8th  of  September^  when  the  articles  of  capitulation 
were  agreed  to,  and  signed,  and  our  troops  took  possession 
of  the  town  gates  that  night.  Next  morning  the  Light 
Infantry,  and  Granadiers  of  the  whole  army,  under  the 
command  of  Col.  Haldiman,  with  a  company  of  the  royal 
artillery,  with  two  pieces  of  cannon,  and  some  hobitzers, 
entered  the  town,  retaking  the  English  colours  belonging 
to  Pepperel's  and  Shirley's  regiments,  which  had  been 
taken  by  the  French  at  Oswego. 

Thus,  at  length,  at  the  end  of  the  fifth  campaign,  Mon- 
treal and  the  whole  country  of  Canada  was  given  up,  and 
became  subject  to  the  King  of  Great  Britain  ;  a  conquest 
perhaps  of  the  greatest  importance  that  is  to  be  met  with 
in  the  British  annals,  whether  we  consider  the  prodigious 
extent  of  country  we  are  hereby  made  masters  of,  the  vast 
addition  it  must  make  to  trade  and  navigation,  or  the  se- 
curity it  must  afford  to  the  northern  provinces  of  America, 
particularly  those  flourishing  ones  of  New  England  and 
New  York,  the  irretrievable  loss  France  sustains  hereby, 
and  the  importance  it  must  give  the  British  crown  among 
the  several  states  of  Europe  :  all  this,  I  say,  duly  considered, 
will,  perhaps,  in  its  consequences  render  the  year  1760 
more  glorious  than  any  preceding. 

And  to  this  acquisition,  had  we,  during  the  late  war, 
either  by  conquest  or  ^--eaty,  added  the  fertile  and  extensive 
country  of  Louisiana,  we  should  have  been  possessed  of 
perhaps  the  most  valuable  territory  upon  the  face  of  the 
globe,  attended  with  more  real  advantages  than  the  so-much- 
boasted  mines  of  Mexioo  and  Peru,  and  would  have  for 
ever  deprived   the    French,   those    treacherous   rivals  of 


'■   r 


h 


ly  this 
]  com- 
te  with 
;nts  till 
lulation 
.session 
r  Light 
der  the 
le  royal 
bitzers, 
longing 
d    been 


onquest 
let  with 

digious 
he  vast 

the  se- 
merica, 
,nd  and 
|hereby, 

among 
Isidered, 
1760 

te  war, 
ttensive 
Issed  of 

of  the 
k-much- 
lave  for 

rals   of 


yournals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      175 

Britain's  glory,   of  an  opportunity  of  acting   hereafter  the 
same  perfidious  parts  they  have  already  so  often  repeated. 

On  the  9th  Gen.  Amherst  informed  mc  of  his  intention 

I  of  sending  me  to  Detroit,  and  on  the  12th  in  the  morning, 

I  when  I  waited  upon   him  again,   I   received   the   following 

I  orders : 

By  his  Excellency   JefFery   Amherst,  Esq.;   Major  General 

and  Commander  in   Chief  of  all  his  Majesty's  forces  in 

North  America,  &c.  &c.  &c. 
I  To  Major  Rogers,  commanding  his  Majesty's  independent 

companies  of  Rangers. 

"  You  will,  upon  receipt   thereof,   with   Capt.  Waite's 
land  Capt.  Hazen's  companies  of  Rangers  iiu  l.?r  your  com- 
mand,* proceed  in  whale-boats  from  hence  to  1  jrt  William 
Augustus,  taking  along  with  you  one  Joseph  Poupao,  alias 
iLa  Fleur,  an   inhabitant   of  Detroit,  an  i   LieuL.    Brr'ame, 
{Assistant  Engineer. 

"  F'-oir*  Fort  William  Augustusf  you  will  continue  your 
jvoyage  by  the  north-shore  to  Niagara,  where  you  will  land 


*  John  Hazen  was  doubtlesi  at  this  time  a  citizen  of  Plaistow,  N.  H.,  and 
I  1757,  '8,  '9,  '60,  was  enrolled  in  the  New  Hampshire  Militia  under  Col. 
^tevens.  He  subsequently  settled  at  Haverhill,  N.  H.,  and  afterwards  at  St. 
John's,  Canada;  but  having  joined  the  patriot  cause,  his  house  was  burned 
Huring  the  Revolution  and  he  was  forced  to  leave  the  province.  He  finally 
lettled  in  Albany,  where  he  suffered  from  paralysis  in  1785,  and  died  some 
after.  —  Report  of  Adjutant  General  of  New  Hampshire^  1866,  II,  p.  211. 
The  muster  roll  of  his  company  for  the  season  of  1758,  is  given  at  the  report 
litre  cited. 

I  Fort  William  Augustus,  had  formerly  been  known  as  Fort  Levis.  l' 
tcupied  the  whole  of  Isle  Royal,  the  Oraconenton,  of  the  natives.  It  lie* 
bree  miles  below  the  present  city  of  Ogdensburgh  and  is  now  known  a* 
'Chimney  Island,"  from  the  ruins  of  its  ancient  works.  The  name  was 
ged  by  General  Amherst,  after  its  conquest  in  August,  1760.  A  plan  of 
hit  fort  as  it  existed  at  the  time  of  its  surrender  by  the  French,  is  given  in 
lante's  History  of  the  War  of  1756-60,  and  a  minute  description  by 
chot,  by  whom  it  was  built  in  1759,  and  defended  till  its  final  surrender 
1760. 


1::^'! 


HBP 


r  * 
I  1 
t    ; 


176     Journais  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 

your  whale-boats,  and  transport  them  across  the  Carrying- 
place  into  Lake  Erie,  applying  to  Major  Walters,  or  the 
officer  commanding  at  Niagara,  for  any  assistance  you  may 
want  on  that  or  any  other  occasion,  requesting  of  him  at 
the  same  time  to  deliver  up  to  you  Monsieur  Gamelin, 
who  was  made  prisoner  at  the  reduction  of  said  fort,  and 
has  continued  there  ever  since,  in  order  to  conduct  him, 
with  the  above-mentioned  Poupao,  to  their  habitations  at 
Detroit,  where,  upon  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  his 
most  sacred  Majesty,  whose  subjects  they  are  become  by 
the  capitulation  of  the  8th  inst ;  they  shall  be  protected  in 
the  peaceable  and  quiet  possession  of  their  properties,  and, 
so  long  as  they  behave  as  becometh  good  and  taithful  sub- 
jects, shall  partake  of  all  the  other  privileges  and  im- 
munities granted  unto  them  by  the  said  capitulation. 

"  With  these,  and  the  detachment  under  your  command, 
you  will  proceed  in  your  whale-boats  across  Lake  Erie  to 
Presque  Isle,*  where,  upon  your  arrival,  you  will  make 
known  the  orders  I  have  given  to  the  officer  commanding 
that  post  \  and  vou  will  leave  said  whale-boats  and  party, 
taking  only  a  small  detachment  of  your  party,  and  march 
ing  by  land,  to  join  Brigadier  General  Monkton,! 
wherever  he  may  be. 

*'  Upon  your  arrival  with  him,  you  will  deliver  into  his 
hands  the  dispatches  you  shall  herewith  receive  for  him, 
and  follow  and  obey  such  orders  as  he  shall  give  you  for 
the  relief  of  the  garrisons  of  the  French  posts  at  Detroit, 
Michlimakana,  or  any  others  in  that  district,  for  gathering 
in  the  arms  of  the  inhabitants  thereof,  and  for  administering 
to  them   the  oath  of  allegiance  already  mentioned  ;  when 


*  Preaque  Iile  is  now  Erie,  Pa.,  a  point  early  occupied  and  fortified   by  the 
French  aa  a  part  of  their  chai^  of  forts  extending  from  Canada  to  Louisiana. 

f  General  Robert  Monkton  was  governor  of  New  York  in  1762-3,  ind 
afterwards  of  Portsmouth.     He  died  in  178a. 


f. 

;  Carrying- 

ters,  or  the 
e  you  may 

of  him  at 
r  Gamelin, 
d  fort,  and 
nduct  him, 
ihitations  at 
lance  to  his 
become  by 
protected  in 
>erties,  and, 
lithful  sub- 
;s  and  im- 
:ion. 

r  command, 
.ake  Erie  to 
I  will  make 
ommandingl 

and  party, 
and  march 

Vlonkton,! 

ver  into  his 
|re  for  him, 
ive  you  for 
at  Detroit, 
r  gathering! 
ministering 
ned  ;  when 


jrtified   by  tht 
Louisiana. 

1762-3,  and 


yournals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,      177 

you  will  likewise  administer,  or  see  administered,  the  same 
to  the  before- mentioned  Gamelin  and  Poupao  ;  and  when 
this  is  done,  and  that  you  have  reconnoitered  and  explored 
the  country  as  much  as  you  can,  without  losing  time  un- 
necessarily, you  are  to  bring  away  the  French  troops  and 
arms,  to  such  place  as  you  shall  be  directed  by  General 
Monktonii 

"  And  when  the  whole  of  this  service  is  compleated,  you 
will  march  back  your  detachment  to  Presque  Isle,  or  Niag- 
ara, according  to  the  orders  you  receive  from  Brigadier 
Monkton,  where  you  will  embark  the  whole,  and  in  like 
manner,  as  before,  transport  your  whale  boats  across  the 
Carrying-place,*  into  Lake  Ontario,  where  yo.u  will  deliver 
over  your  whale-boats  into  the  care  of  the  commanding  offi- 
cer, marching  your  detachment  by  land  to  Albany,  or  where- 
ever  I  may  be,  to  receive  what  further  orders  I  may  have 
to  give  you. 

'^  Given  under  my  hand,  at  the  headquarters  in  the  camp 
of  Montreal,  12th  Sept.  1760. 

Jef.  Amherst:* 

"By  his  Excellency's  command, 

An  additional  order  was  given,  which  was  to  be  shewn 
only  to  the  commanding  officers  of  the  different  posts  I 
might  touch  at,  the  expedition  being  intended  to  be  kept  a 
profound  secret,  for  fear  the  march  should  be  impeded  by 
the  enemy  Indians,  through  whose  country  I  was  obliged 
to  march. 

This  order  was  as  follows,  viz  : 

"  Major  Walters,  or  the  officer  commanding  at  Niagara, 
will  judge  whether  or  not  there  is   provision  sufficient  at 

*  The  portage  wat  on  the  east  side  of  Niagara  river,  from  the  present  village 
ofLewiston,  to  the  foot  of  navigation  about  two  miles  above  the  Fails. 


! 

'  ■  ■■  i 

!  ; 


1 

■  :!i 

■   V 
't 

1 

1 

■ 

^ 

■ 

U 

\'; 

1 78     yournals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

Presque  Isle ;  and  Major  Rogers  will  accordingly  take 
provisions  from  Niagara.  Eight  days  provision  will  take 
him  from  Montreal  to  Fort  William-Augustus ;  there  he 
will  apply  to  the  commanding  officer  for  a  sufficient  quan- 
tity to  proceed  to  Niagara.  Major  Rogers  knows  where 
he  is  going,  and  the  provisions  he  will  want ;  some  should 
be  in  store  likewise  at  Presque  Isle,  for  the  party  Brigadier 
General  Monkton  will  send. 

Jeff.  Amherst.*' 

Montreal,  12th  Sept.,  1760. 

In  pursuance  of  these  orders*  I  embarked  at  Montreal 
the  13th  Sept.,  1760  (with  Captain  Brewer,  Captain  Wait, 
Lieutenant  Brheme,  Assisstant  Engineer,  Lieut.  Davis  of 
the  Royal  train  of  artillery,  and  two  hundred  Rangers) 
about  noon,  in  fifteen  whale-boats ;  and  that  night  we 
encamped  at  la  Chine ;  next  morning  we  reached  Isle  de 
Praires,  and  took  a  view  of  the  two  Indian  settlements  at 
Coyhavagu  and  Conesadagu. 

On  the  1 6th  we  got  up  to  an  island  in  the  Lake  of  St. 
Francis,  and  the  next  night  encamped  on  the  western  shore, 
at  the  lower  end  of  the  upper  rifts.  We  ascended  these 
rifts  the  day  following,  and  continued  all  night  on  the  north 
shore,  opposite  a  number  of  islands. 


*  Mr.  Francis  Parkman  in  his  Conipiracy  of  Pontlac  (6th  ed.  i,  p.  163),  in 
noticing  Rogers'  Journal  of  this  expedition,  says  : 

"  Although  Rogers,  especially  where  his  pecuniary  interest  was  concerned, 
was  far  from  scrupulous,  I  have  no  hesitation  in  following  his  account  of  the 
expedition  up  the  lakes.  The  incidents  of  each  day  are  minuted  along  in  a 
dry,  unambitious  style,  bearing  the  clear  impress  of  truth.  Extracts  from  the 
Orderly  Book  and  other  official^papers  are  given,  wnile  portions  of  the  narrative 
verified  by  contemporary  documents,  may  stand  as  earnests  for  the  truth  of 
the  whole. 


gly  take 
mil  take 
there  he 
:nt  quan- 
fs  where 
le  should 
Brigadier 

ihirst." 


Montreal 
ain  Wait, 
Davis  of 
Rangers) 
night  we 
ed  Isle  de 
ements  at 


,  p.  163),  in 


Journals  of  Major  "Robert  Rogers.     179 

In  the  evening  of  the  19th  we  came  to  the  Isle  de 
Gallettes,'*'  and  spent  the  20th  in  repairing  our  whale-boats, 
which  had  received  some  damage  in  ascending  the  rifts. 

This  morning  I  sent  off  ten  sick  Rangers  to  Albany,  by 
the  way  of  Oswego,  recommending  them  to  the  care  of 
Col.  Fitch,  commanding  at  Oswego,  who  was  to  give 
them  suitable  directions. 

We  left  Isle  de  Gallettes  on  the  21st ;  about  twelve 
o'clock,  the  wind  being  unfavourable,  we  passed  Oswegachi 
and  encamped  but  three  miles  above  it  on  the  northern 
shore. 

On  the  22d  we  continued  our  course  up  the  river,  the 
wind  blowing  fresh  at  south,  and  halted  in  the  evening  at 
the  narrow  passes  near  the  islands ;  but,  upon  the  wind's 
abating  at  midnight,  we  embarked  and  rowed  the  remainder 
of  that  night  and  the  whole  day  following,  till  we  came  to 
the  place  where  formerly  stood  the  old  Fort  of  Frontiniac,t 
where  we  found  some  Indian  hunters  from  Oswegachi. 
We  were  detained  here  all  the  next  day  by  the  tempestu- 
ousness  of  the  weather,  which  was  very  windy,  attended 
with  snow  and  rain  ;  we,  however,  improved  the  tim6  in 
taking  a  plan  of  the  old  fort,  situated  at  the  bottom  of  a 
fine,  safe  harbour. 

There  were  about  five  hundred  acres  of  cleared  ground 
about  it,  which,  tho*  covered  with  clover,  seemed  bad  and 
rocky,  and  interspersed  with  some  pine-trees.  The  Indians 
here  seemed  to  be  well  pleased  with  the  news  we  brought 
them  of  the  surrender  of  all  Canada,  and  supplied  us  with 
great  plenty  of  venison  and  wild  fowl. 

*  Isle  de  Gallettes,  now  Galloo  Island,  opposite  Lisbon,  in  St.  Lawrence 
Co.,  an'i  near  the  head  of  the  rapids  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  There  was  formerly 
an  Indian  settlement  and  a  mission  church  on  the  upper  end  of  the  island,  the 
traces  of  which  can  still  be  seen. 

t  The  site  of  Fort  Frontenac  is  now  the  city  of  Kingston,  Province  o^ 
Ontario,  Canada. 


1 80     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 


We  left  this  place  the  25th,  about  ten  in  the  morning, 
steering  a  south-course  two  miles,  then  west  six  miles, 
which  brought  us  to  the  mouth  of  a  river  thirty  feet  wide ; 
then  south  four  miles,  where  we  halted  to  refresh  the 
party. 

About  four  in  the  afternoon  we  rowed  for  a  mountain 
bearing  south-west,  which  we  did  not  come  up  to  till  some 
time  in  the  night,  and  found  it  to  be  a  steep  rock,  about 
one  hundred  feet  high.  It  now  grew  foggy,  and  mistaking 
our  way  about  six  miles,  we  rowed  all  night,  and  till  8 
o'clock-  next  morning,  before  we  put  ashore  ;  which  we 
then  did  on  a  point,  where  we  breakfasted,  and  then  pro- 
ceeded on  our  voyage,  rowing  till  8  o'clock  at  night 
(being  about  one  hundred  miles,  as  we  imagined,  from 
Frontiniac)  we  landed.  This  evening  we  passed  two  small 
islands  at  the  end  of  a  point  extending  far  into  the  lake ; 
the  darkness  and  fog  prevented  us  from  taking  such  a 
survey  of  them  as  to  be  able  to  give  a  particular  description 
of  them. 

The  27th  of  September,  being  very  windy,  we  spent  the 
time  in  deer-hunting,  there  being  great  plenty  of  them 
there,  tho'  the  land  is  rocky,  the  timber  bad,  chiefly 
hemlock  and  pine  ;  and  I  believe  it  is  generally  so  on  the 
north-side  of  Lake  Ontario. 

We  embarked  very  early  on  the  28th,  steering  south- 
west, leaving  a  large  bay  on  the  right,  about  twenty  miles 
wide  ;  the  western  side  of  which  terminates  in  a  point, 
and  a  small  island  :  having  passed  both,  about  fifteen  miles 
on  a  course  west  by  south,  we  entered  the  chops  of  a  river, 
called  by  the  Indians  the  Grace  of  Man  ;  there  we  en- 
camped, and  found  about  50  Mississagua  Indians  fishing 
for  salmon.  At  our  first  appearance  they  ran  down,  both 
men  and  boys,  to  the«  edge  of  the  lake,  and  continued 
firing  their  pieces,  to  express  their  joy  at  the  sight  of  the 
English  colours,  till  such  time  as  we  had  landed. 


journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,     1 8 1 


norning, 
c  miles, 
;t  wide ; 
esh  the 

lountain 
:ill  some 
k,  about 
tistaking 
id  till  8 
hich  we 
hen  pro- 
at  night 
;d,  from 
NO  small 
he  lake ; 
;  such  a 
scription 


They  presented  me  with  a  deer  just  killed  and  split  in 
halves,  with  the  skin  on,  but  the  bowels  taken  out,  which, 
with  them,  is  a  most  elegant  and  polite  present,  and  signifi- 
cant of  the  greatest  respect.  I  told  them  of  the  success  of 
their  English  brethren,  against  their  fathers  the  French  ; 
at  which  they  either  were,  or  pretended  to  be,  very  well 
pleased. 

Some  of  us  fished  with  them  in  the  evening,  being  in- 
vited by  them,  and  filled  a  bark-canoe  with  salmon  in 
about  half  an  hour.  Their  method  of  catching  the  fish  is 
very  extraordinary.  One  person  holds  a  lighted  pine- 
torch,  while  a  second  strikes  the  fish  with  a  spear.  This 
is  the  season  in  which  the  salmon  spawn  in  these  parts, 
contrary  to  what  they  do  in  any  other  place  I  ever  knew 
them  before. 

I  found  the  soil  near  this  river  very  good  and  level. 
The  timber  is  chiefly  oak  and  maple,  or  the  sugar-tree. 

At  seven  o'clock  the  next  morning  we  took  our  de- 
parture from  this  river,  the  wind  being  a-head.  About 
fifteen  miles  further,  on  a  west-south-west  course,  we  put 
into  another  river,  called  the  Life  of  Man.  The  Messissa- 
guas,  who  were  hunting  here,  about  thirty  in  number,  paid 
us  the  same  compliments  with  those  we  just  before  re- 
ceived from  their  countrymen,  and,  instead  of  a  deer,  split 
up  a  young  bear,  and  presented  me  with  it.  Plenty  of  fish 
was  catched  here  also.  The  land  continued  good  and 
level,  the  soil  of  a  blackish  colour,  and  the  banks  of  the 
lake  were  low. 

The  wind  being  fair  the  30th,  we  embarked  at  the  first 
dawn  of  day,  and  with  the  assistance  of  sails  and  oars, 
made  great  way  on  a  south-west  course,  and  in  the  evening 
reached  the  river  Toronto,  having  run  seventy  miles. 
Many  points  extending  far  into  the  lake,  occasioned  a 
frequent  alteration  of  our  course.     We  passed  a  bank  of 


.«1 


mm 


182     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 

twenty  miles  in  length,  but  the  land  behind  it  seemed  to 
be  level,  well-timbered  with  large  oaks,  hickories,  maples, 
and  some  poplars.  No  mountains  appeared  in  sight. 
There  was  a  track  of  about  300  acres  of  cleared  ground, 
round  the  plac^  where  formerly  the  French  had  a  fort,  that 
was  called  Fort  Toronto.  The  soil  here  is  principally 
clay.  The  deer  are  extremely  plenty  in  this  country. 
Some  Indians  were  hunting  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  who 
run  into  the  woods  at  our  approach,  very  much  frightened. 
They  came  in,  however,  in  the  morning,  and  testified  their 
joy  at  the  news  of  our  success  against  the  French.  They 
told  us  *■*'  that  we  could  easily  accomplish  our  journey  from 
thence  to  Detroit  in  eight  days  ;  that  when  the  French 
traded  at  that  place,  the  Indians  used  to  come  with  their 
poultry  from  Michlimakana,  down  the  river  Toronto: 
that  the  portage  was  but  twenty  miles  from  that  to  a  river 
falling  into  Lake  Huron,  which  had  some  falls,  but  none 
very  considerable;  "  they  added,  that  there  was  a  Carrying- 
place  of  fifteen  miles  from  some  westerly  part  of  Lake 
Erie,  to  a  river  running  without  any  falls,  thro'  several 
Indian  towns  into  Lake  St.  Clair. 

I  think  Toronto  a  most   convenient  place  for  a  factory, 
and  that  from  thence  we  may  very  easily  settle  the  north- 1 
side  of  Lake  Erie. 

We  left   Toronto   the  ist  of  October,  steering  south,  I 
right  across  the  west-end  of  Lake  Ontario.     At  dark  we 
arrived  at  the  south-shore,  five  miles  west  of  Fort  Niagara, 
some  of  our  boats  being  now  become  exceeding  leaky  and  I 
dangerous. 

This  morning,  before  we  set  out,  I  directed  the  following] 
order  of  march  : 

"The  boats  in  a^line.  If  the  wind  rose  high,  the  red 
flag  hoisted,  and  the  boats  to  crowd  nearer,  that  they  might 
he  ready  to  give  mutual  assistance  in  case  of  a  leak  or 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      183 

other  accident ;"  by  which  means  we  saved  the  crew  and 
arms  of  rhe  boat  commanded  by  Lieut.  M'Cormacic,  which 
sprung  a  leak   and  sunk,  losing  nothing  except  their  packs. 

We  halted  all  the  next  day  at  Niagara,  and  provided 
ourselves   with   blankets,  coats,  shirts,   shoes,  magassins, 

&c. 

I  received  from  the  commanding  officer  eighty  barrels 
of  provisions,  and  changed  two  whale-boats  for  as  many 
battoes,  which  proved  leaky. 

In  the  evening  some  of  my  party  proceeded  with  the 
provisions  to  the  falls,  and  in  the  morning  marched  the  rest 
there,  and  began  the  portage  of  the  provisions  and  boats. 
Mess.  Brheme  and  Davis  took  a  survey  of  the  great 
cataract  of  Niagara. 

As  the  winter-season  was  now  advancing  very  fast  in 
this  country,  and  I  had  orders  to  join  Brig.  Monkton  from 
Presque  Isle,  wherever  he  might  be,  to  receive  his  di- 
rections,'I  set  out  this  evening,  the  5th  of  October,  in  a 
bark-canoe,  with  Lieutenants  Brheme  and  Holmes,  and 
eight  Rangers,  leaving  the  command  of  my  party  to  Capt. 
Brewer,  with  instructions  to  follow  to  Prefque  Isle,  and 
encamped  eight  miles  up  the  stream  issuing  out  of  Lake 
Ene.  The  land  appeared  to  be  good  on  both  sides  the 
river. 

Next  morning  embarked  early,  and  steered  a  south-west 
course.  About  noon  opened  Lake  Erie,  and  leaving  a 
bay  to  the  left,  we  arrived  by  sun-set  at  the  southern  shore 
of  the  lake;  we  then  steered  west  till  eight  o'clock  at 
night,  and  drew  up  our  boats  on  a  sandy  beach,  forty  miles 
distant  from  where  we  embarked  in  the  morning. 

The  wind  was  veiy  fresh  next  day,  which  prevented  our 
setting  out  till  1 1  o'clock ;  so  that  we  made  no  further 
progress  than  about  twenty-eight  miles  on  a  west-south- 

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184     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 

west  course.  A  little  after  noon,  on  the  8th  of  October, 
we  arrived  at  Presque  Isle,  having  kept  a  southerly  course 
all  the  morning  ;  I  tarried  there  rill  3  o'clock,  when  having 
sent  back  my  party  to  assist  Capt.  Brewer,  Mr.  Brheme, 
Lieutenant  Holmes,  and  myself,  took  leave  of  Colonel 
Bouquet,*  who  commanded  at  Presque  Isle,  and  with  three 
other  men,  in  a  bark-canoe,  proceeded  to  French  Creek, 
and  at  night  encamped  on  the  road,  half  way  to  Fort  du 
Bouf.  We  got  to  this  fort  about  10  o'clock  next  day,  and 
after  three  hours  rest  launched  our  canoe  into  the  river, 
and  paddled  down  about  ten  miles  below  the  fort. 

On  the  loth  we  encamped  at  the  second  crossings  of  the 
river,  the  land  on  both  sides  appeared  to  be  good  all  the 
way.  The  nth  we  reached  the  Mingo  Cabbins,  and  the 
night  of  the  12th  we  lodged  at  Venango;  from  thence 
went  down  the  River  Ohio;  and  on  the  morning  of  the 
17th  I  waited  upon  Brigadier  Monkton  at  Pittsburgh,  and 
delivered  him  General  Amherst's  dispatches,  and  my  own 
instructions. 

I  left  Pittsburgh  the  20th,  at  the  request  of  General 
Monkton,  who  promised  to  send  his  orders  after  me  to 
Presque  Isle,  by  Mr.  Croghan,  and  to  forward  Capt. 
Campbell  immediately  with  a  company  of  the  Royal  Ame- 
ricans; I  got  back  to  Presque  Isle  the  30th  of  October, 
Captain  Campbell  arrived  the  day  after ;  Captain  Brewer 
was  got  there  before  us,  with  the  Rangers  from  Niagara, 
having  lost  some  of  the  boats,  and  part  of  the  provisions. 

We  immediately  began  to  repair  the  damaged  boats  ;  and, 
as  there  was  an  account  that  a   vessel,  expected  with  pro- 


*  Henry  Bouquet,  served  in  the  British  army  with  distinction  through  the 
French  and  Indian  wars,  and  after  the  conquest  of  Canada  was  employed  in 
expeditions  against  hostile  Indian  tribes  in  the  west  and  south.  He  died  at 
Pensacola  in  February,  1766,  being  at  that  time  a  brigadier  general  in  the 
British  army. 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      185 


tober, 
rourse 
laving 
heme, 
olonel 
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LZreek, 
'ort  du 
ly,  and 
river, 

i  of  the 
all  the 
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leneral 
me  to 
Capt. 
il  Ame- 
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Brewer 
[iagara, 
isions. 
tsi  and, 
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[irough  the 

1  ployed  in 

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visions  from  Niagara,  was  lost,  I  dispatched  Capt.  Brewer 
by  land  to  Detroit,  with  a  drove  of  forty  oxen,  supplied  by 
Col.  Bouquet.  Capt.  Wait  was  about  the  same  time  sent 
back  to  Niagara  for  more  provisions,  and  ordered  to  cruise 
along  the  north-coast  of  Lake  Erie,  and  halt  about  twenty 
miles  to  the  east  of  the  streight  between  the  Lakes  Huron 
and  Erie;  till  further  orders.  Brewer  had  a  battoe  to  ferry 
his  party  over  the  Creeks,  two  horses,  and  Capt.  Monter 
with  twenty  Indians,  composed  of  the  Six  Nations,  Dela- 
wares  and  Shawanese,  to  protect  him  from  the  insults  of 
the  enemy  Indians. 

My  order  of  march  over  from  Presque  Isle  was  as  follows: 
*'  The   boats   to   row  two  deep  ;  first.   Major  Rogers's 
boat,   abreast    of  him    Capt.    Croghan ;  Capt.    Campbell 
follows  with  his  company,  the  Rangers  next  ;  and   lastly, 
Lieutenant    Holmes,  who  commands  the  rear  guard,  with 
his  own  boat,  and  that  of  Ensign  Wait's,  so  as  to  be  ready 
to  assist  any  boat  that  may  be  in  distress.     Boats  in  distress  ■ 
are  to  fire  a  gun,  when   Mr.  Holmes  with  the  other  boats 
under  his  command  are   immediately  to  go  to  their  relief, 
take  them  to  the  shore,  or  give  such  other  assistance  as  he 
thinks  may  be  best.     When  the  wind  blows  hard,  so  that 
the  boats  cannot  keep  their  orrier,  a  red  flag  will  be  hoisted 
in  the  Major's  boat ;  then  the  boats  are  not  to  mind  their 
order,  but  put  after  the  flag  as  fast  as  possible  to  the  place 
of  landing,  to  which  the  flag- boat  will  always  be  a  guide. 

"  It  is  recommended  to  the  soldiers  as  well  as  officers, 
not  to  mind  the  waves  of  the  lake  ;  but  when  the  surf  is 
high  to  stick  to  their  oars,  and  the  men  at  helm  to  keep  the 
boat  quartering  on  the  waves,  ano  briskly  follow,  then  no 
mischief  will  happen  by  any  storm  whatever.  Ten  of  the 
best  steersmen  amongst  the  Rangers  are  to  attend  Captain 
Campbell  and  company  in  his  boats.  It  is  likewise  re- 
commended to  the  officers  commanding  in  those  boats,  to 
hearken  to  the  steersmen   in  a  storm  or  bad  weather,  in 


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,5i 


1 86     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

managing  their  boats.  At  evening,  (if  it  is  thought  neces- 
sary to  row  in  the  night-time)  a  blue  flag  will  be  hoisted  in 
the  Major's  boat,  which  is  the  signal  for  the  boats  to  dress, 
and  then  proceed  in  the  following  manner:  the  boats  next 
the  hindermost,  are  to  wait  for  the  two  in  the  rear,  the  two 
third  boats  for  the  second  two  ;  and  so  on  to  the  boats 
leading  a-head,  to  prevent  separation,  which  in  the  night 
would  be  hazardous. 

*^  Mr.  Brheme  is  not  to  mind  the  order  of  march,  but  to 
steer  as  is  most  convenient  for  him  to  make  his  observa- 
tions :  he  is  however  desired  never  to  go  more  than  a  league 
a-head  of  the  detachment,  and  is  to  join  them  at  landing  or 
encamping. 

*'  On  landing,  the  Regulars  are  to  encamp  in  the  center, 
and  Lieutenant  Holmes's  division  on  the  right  wing  with 
Mr.  Croghan's  people,  Lieutenant  M'Cormick  on  the  left 
wing  with  his  division  ;  Mr.  Jequipe  to  be  always  ready 
with  his  Mohegan  Indians,  which  are  the  picquet  of  the 
detachment,  part  of  which  are  always  to  encamp  in  the 
front  of  the  party  ;  Capt.  Campbell  will  mount  a  guard 
consisting  of  one  Subaltern,  one  Serjeant,  and  thirty  privates, 
immediately  on  landing,  for  the  security  of  his  own  encamp- 
ment and  battoes  '■,  Lieutenant  Holmes's  division  to  keep  a 
guard  of  one  Serjeant  and  ten  Rangers  on  the  right,  and 
Lieutenant  M'Cormick  the  like  number  on  the  left,  and 
likewise  to  act  as  Adjutant  to  the  detachment,  and  the 
orderly  drum  to  attend  him,  to  be  at  the  Serjeant's  call. 
The  general  to  beat  when  ordered  by  the  Major,  at  which 
time  the  whole  party  is  to  prepare  for  embarking,  the  troops 
half  an  hour  after,  when  all  the  guards  are  to  be  called  in, 
and  the  party  embark  immediately  after. 

"  There  is  to  be  no  ^ring  of  guns  in  this  detatchment 
without  permission  from  the  commanding  officer,  except 
when  in  distress  on  the  lake.     No  man  to  go  without  the 


wj 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,      1 87 

centries,  when  in  camp,  unless  he  has  orders  so  to  do ; 
great  care  to  be  taken  of  the  arms,  and  the  officers  to  re- 
view them  daily.  Captain  Campbell  will  order  a  drum  to 
beat,  foi-  the  regulation  of  his  company  when  landed,  at  any 
time  he  thinks  proper  for  parading  his  men,  or  reviewing 
their  arms,  &c. 

"  It  is  not  doubted  but  due  attention  will  be  paid  to  all 
orders  given. 

"  Mr.  Croghan  will,  at  landing,  always  attend  the  Major 
for  orders,  and  to  give  such  intelligence  as  he  may  have 
had  from  the  Indians  .throughout  the  day." 

We  left  Presque  Isle  the  4th  of  November,  kept  a 
western  course,  and  by  night  had  advanced  twenty  miles. 

The  badness  of  the  weather  obliged  us  to  lie  by  all  the 
next  day  ;  and  as  the  wind  continued  very  high,'  we  did  not 
advance  more  than  ten  or  twelve  miles  the  6th,  on  a 
course  west  south-west. 

We  set  out  very  early  on  the  7th,  and  came  to  the 
mouth  of  Chogage*  River,  ;  here  we  met  with  a  party  of 
Attawawa    Indians,    just  arrived   from   Detroit.     We    in- 


*  Probably  Cuyahoga  River,  at  the  modern  city  of  Cleveland,  O.,  Mr.  Park- 
man  thug  describes  the  interview  between  Major  Rogers  and  the  Indians,  on 
this  occasion  : 

"  Soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  Rangers,  a  party  of  Indian  chiefs  and  warriors 
entered  the  eamp.  They  proclaimed  themselves  an  embassy  from  Pontiac, 
ruler  of  all  that  country,  and  directed  in  his  name,  that  the  English  should  ad- 
vance no  farther  until  they  had  had  an  interview  with  the  great  chief  who  was 
close  at  hand.  In  truth,  before  the  day  had  closed,  Pontiac  himself  appeared  ; 
and  it  it  is  here  for  the  first  time  that  this  remarkable  man  stands  forth  dis- 
tinctly on  the  page  of  history.  He  greeted  Rogers  with  a  haughty  demand, 
what  was  his  business  in  that  country,  and  how  he  dared  to  enter  it  without 
permission.  Rogers  informed  him  that  the  French  were  defeated  :  that  Canada 
had  surrendered,  and  that  he  was  on  his  way  to  take  possession  of  Detroit,  and 
restore  a  general  peace,  to  white  men  and  Indians  alike.  Pontiac  listened  with 
attention,  but  only  replied  that  he  should  stand  in  the  path  of  the  English 
until  morning.      Having  inquired  if  the  strangers  were  in  need  of  anything 


i 

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! 

f 

11 


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1 


1 88     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 

formed  them  of  our  success  in  the  total  reduction  of 
Canada,  and  that  we  were  going  to  bring  off  the  French 
garrison  at  Detroit,  who  were  included  in  the  capitulation, 
I  held  out  a  belt,  and  told  them  1  would  take  my  brothers 
by  the  hand,  and  carry  them  to  Detroit,  to  see  the  truth  of 
what  I  had  said.  They  retired,  and  held  a  council,  and 
promised  an  Answer  next  morning.  That  evening  we 
smoaked  the  calamet,  or  pipe  of  peace,  all  the  officers  and 
Indians  smoaking  by  turns  out  of  the  same  pipe.  The 
peace  thus  concluded,  we  went  to  rest,  but  kept  good 
guards,  a  little  distrusting  their  sincerity. 

The  Indians  gave  their  answer  ^arly  in  the  morning,  and 
said  their  young  warriors  should  go  with  me,  while  the  old 
ones  staid  to  hunt  for  their  wives  and  children. 

I  gave. them  ammunition  at  their  request,  and  a  string  of 
wampum  in  testimony  of  my  approbation,  and  charged 
them  to  send  some  of  their  sachems,  or  chiefs,  with  the 
party  who  drove  the  oxen  along  the  shore  ;  and  they  pro- 
mised to  spread  the  news,  and  prevent  any  annoyance  from 
their  hunters. 

We  were  detained  here  by  unfavourable  weather  till  the 
I2th,  during  which  time  the  Indiana  held  a  plentiful  market 
n  our  camp  of  venison  and  turkies. 

From  this  place  we  steered  one  mile  west,  then  a  mile 
south,  then  four  ^miles  west,  then  south-west  ten  miles, 


which  the  country  could  afford,  he  withdrew  with  his  chiefs,  at  nightfall,  to 
bis  own  encampment;-  while  the  English  ill  at  ease,  and  suspecting  treachery, 
stood  well  on  their  guard  thr  tighout  the  night. 

In  the  morning,  Pontiac  returned  to  the  camp  with  his  attendant  chiefi, 
and  made  his  reply  to  Roger's  speech  of  the  previous  day.  He  was  willing, 
he  said,  to  live  at  peace  with  the  English  and  suffer  them  to  remain  in  his 
country,  as  long  as  they  treate(|  him  with  due  respect  and  deference.  The  In- 
dian chieft  and  provincial  officers  smoked  the  calumet  together,  and  perfect 
harmony  seemed  established  between  them." 

-—Parkman's  Conspiracy  of  Pontiac ^  6th  ed.  I,  l6j. 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,      1 89 

then  five  miles  west-and-by-south,  then  south-west  eight 
miles,  then  west-and-by-south  seven  miles,  then  four 
miles  west,  and  then  south-west  six  miles,  which  brought 
us  to  Elk  River,  as  the  Indians  call  it,  where  we  halted 
two  days  on  account  of  bad  weather  and  contrary  winds. 

On  the  15th  we  embarked,  and  kept  the  following 
courses;  west-south-west  two  miles,  west  north-west  three 
miles,  west-by-north  one  mile,  west  two  miles  ;  here  we 
passed  the  mouth  of  a  river,  and  then  steered  west  one 
mile,  west -by  south  two  miles,  west-by  north  four  miles, 
north-west  three  miles,  west-north-west  two  miles,  west- 
by-north  ten  miles,  where  we  encamped  at  the  mouth  of  a 
river  twenty-five  yards  wide. 

The  weather  did  not  permit  us  to  depart  till  the  i8th, 
when  our  course  was  west  by-south  six  miles;  west  by- 
north  four  miles,  west  two  miles  ;  here  we  found  a  river 
about  fifteen  yards  over,  then  proceeded  west  half  a  mile, 
west-south-west  six  miles  and  a  half,  west  two  miles  and  an 
half,  north-west  two  miles,  where  we  encamped,  and  dis- 
covered a  river  sixteen  yards  broad  at  the  entrance. 

We  left  this  place  the  next  day,  steering  north-west  four 
miles,  north-north-west  six  miles,  which  brought  us  to 
Sandusky  Lake ;  we  continued  the  same  course  two  miles, 
then  north-north-east  half  a  mile,  north-west  a  quarter  of  a 
mile,  north  the  same  distance,  north-west  half  a  mile, 
north-by-east  one  furlong,  north-west-by-north  one  quarter 
of  a  mile,  north-west-by-west  one  mile,  west-north-west 
one  mile,  then  west  half  a  mile,  where  we  encamped  near 
a  small  river,  on  the  east  side. 

From  this  place  I  detached  Mr.  Brheme  with  a  letter  to 
Monsieur  Deleter,  the  French  commandant  at  Detroit,  in 
these  words : 


1 90     Journals  (f  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

To  Capt.  Beleter,  or  the  Officer  commanding  at  Detroit. 

Sir: 

"  That  you  may  not  be  alarmed  at  the  approach  of  the 
English  troops  under  my  command,  when  they  come  to 
Detroit,  I  send  forward  this  by  Lieut.  Brheme,  to  acquaint 
you,  that  I  have  Gen.  Amherst's  orders  to  take  possession 
of  Detroit,  and  such  other  posts  as  are  in  that  district, 
which,  by  capitulation,  agreed  to  and  signed  by  the  Marquis 
de  Vaudreuil,  -^nd  his  Excellency  Major  Gen.  Amherst, 
the  8th  of  September  last,  now  belong  to  the  King  of  Greai 
Britain. 

'*  I  have  with  me  the  Marqt'is  de  Vaudreil's  letters  to 
you  directed,  for  your  guidance  on  this  occasion,  which 
letters  I  shall  deliver  you  when  I  arrive  at  or  near  your 
post,  and  shall  encamp  the  troops  1  have  with  me  at  some 
distance  from  the  fort,  till  ,you  have  reasonable  time  to  be 
made  acquainted  with  the  Marquis  de  Vaudreuii's  instruc- 
tions, and  the  capitulation,  a  copy  of  which  I  have  with  me 
likewise.  I  am, 
Sir, 

Your  humble  servant, 

Robert  Rogers.'* 

The  land  on  the  south-side  of  Lake  Erie,  from  Presque 
Isle,  puts  on  a  very  fine  appearance  ;  the  country  level,  the 
timber  tall,  and  of  the  best  sort  such  as  oak,  hickerie  and 
locust ;  and  for  game,  both  for  plenty  and  variety,  perhaps 
exceeded  by  no  part  of  the  world. 

I  followed  Mr.  Brheme  on  the  20th,  and  took  a  coui^se 
north-west  four  miles  and  an  half,  south-west  two,  and 
west  three,  to  the  mouth  of  a  river  in  breadth  300  feet. 

Here  we  found  several  Huron  sachems,  who  told  me, 
"  that  a  body  of  400  Irtdian  warriors  was  collected  at  the 
entrance  into  the  great  streight,  in  order  to  obstruct  our 
passage  j  and  that  Monsieur  Beleter  had  excited   them  to 


■M/:e«il  ^Itl-tliKW  iMO«tf 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,      191 


defend  their  country  ;  that  they  were  messengers  to  know 
my  business,  and  whether  the  person  I  had  sent  forward 
had  reported  the  truth,  that  Canada  was  reduced."  I  con- 
firmed this  account,  and  that  the  fort  at  Detroit  was  given 
up  by  the  French  Governor.  I  presented  them  a  large 
belt,  and  spoke  to  this  eiFect  : 

"  Brothers, 

"  With  this  belt  I  take  you  by  the  hand.  You  are  to 
go  directly  to  your  brothers  assembled  z*  i.he  .nouth  of  the 
river,  and  tell  them  to  go  10  their  towns  till  I  arrive  at  the 
fort.  I  shall  call  you  there  as  soon  as  Monsieur  Beleter 
is  sent  away,  which  shall  be  in  two  days  after  my  arrival. 
We  will  then  settle  all  matters.  You  live  happily  in  your 
own  country.  Your  brothers  have  long  desired  to  bring  ^ 
this  about.  Tell  your  warriors  to  mind  their  fathers  (the 
French)  no  more,  for  they  are  all  prisoners  to  your  brothers 
(the  English),  who  pitied  them,  and  left  them  their  houses 
and  goods,  on  their  swearing  by  the  Great  One  who  made 
the  world,  to  become  as  Englishmen  forever.  They  are 
now  your  brothers;  if  you  abuse  them,  you  affront  me, 
unless  they  behave  ill.  Tell  this  to  your  brothers  the 
Indians.  What  I  say  is  truth.  When  we  meet  at 
Detroit  I  will  convince  you  it  is  all  true." 

These  sachems  set  out  in  good  temper  the  next  morning, 
being  the  2ist ;  but  as  the  wind  was  very  high,  we  did  not 
move  from  this  place. 

On  the  ?.2d  we  encamped  on  a  beach,  after  having 
steered  that  day  north-west  six  miles,  north-north-west 
four,  to  a  river  of  the  breadth  of  twenty  yards,  then  north- 
west-by-  west  two  miles,  north-west  one,  west  four,  and 
west-north-west  five  ;  it  wa.s  with  great  difficnlty  we  could 
procure  any  fuel  here,  the  west-side  of  the  Lake  Erie 
abounding  with  swamps. 

We  rowed  ten  miles  the  next  day,  on  a  course  north- 
west and   by   west,  to  Point  Cedar,  and  then   formed  a 


,rl 


;  ^  i' 


i 


H 

In^fc 

H 

^ra^l 

1 

Bi 

il 

192     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 

camp  ;  here  we  met  some  of  the  Indian  messengers,  to 
whom  we  had  spoken  two  days  before  :  they  told  u?,  their 
warriors  were  gone  up  to  Monsieur  Beleter,  who,  thev 
said,  is  a  strong  man,  and  intends  to  fight  you  ;  a  sachem 
of  Attawawas  was  amongst  them.  All  their  Indians  set 
out  with  us.  The  24th  we  went  north-west  and  by  north 
ttn  miles,  and  fourteen  miles  north-east,  to  a  long  point ; 
this  night  sixty  of  the  Indian  party  came  to  our  camp,  who 
congratulated  us  on  our  arrival  in  their  country,  and  offered 
themselves  as  an  escort  to  Detroit,  from  whence  they 
came  the  day  before.  They  informed  me,  that  Mr. 
Bhreme  and  his  party  were  confined  ;  and  that  Monsieur 
Beleter  had  set  up  an  high  flag-staff,  with  a  wooden  effigy 
of  a  man's  head  on  the  top,  and  upon  that  a  crow  ;  that 
the  crow  was  to  represent  himself,  the  man's  head  mine, 
and  the  meaning  of  the  whole,  that  he  would  scratch  out 
my  brains.  This  artifice,  however,  had  no  effect ;  for  the 
Indians  told  him  (as  they  said)  that  the  reverse  would  be 
the  true  explanation  of  the  sign. 

After  we  had  proceeded  six  miles  north-east,  we  halted 
at  the  request  of  the  Indians,  who  desired  me  to  call  in 
the  chief  Captains  of  the  party  at  the  Streight's  mouth 
I  did  so,  and  spent  the  26th  at  the  same  place,  in  con- 
ciliating their  savage  minds  to  peace  and  friendship. 

The  morning  of  the  27,  Monsieur  Beleter  sent  me  the 
foll6wing  letter  by  Monsieur  Babee. 

"  Monsieur, 

"  J'ai  re^u  la  lettre  que  vous  m'avez  ecrite  par  un  del 
vos  Officiers  ;  comme  je  n'ai  point  d'interprete,  je  ne  puisj 
faire  la  reponse  amplement. 

L'OfHcier  qui  m'a  remise  la  votre,   me  fait  favoir  qu'il 
etoit  detache  afin  de*  m'anoncer  votre  arrive,  pour  prendre! 
possession  de  cette  garison,  selon  la   capitulation  fait  enl 
Canada,  que  vous  avez  conjointement  avec  un  lettre  del 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     193 


(( 


Monsieur  de  Vaudreuil  a  mon  addresse.  Je  vous  prie, 
Monsieur,  d'arreter  vos  troupes  a  I'entrance  de  la  riviere, 
jusques  a  ce  que  vous  m'envoyes  la  capitulation  &  la  lettre 
de  Monseigneur  le  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil,  afin  de  pouvoir 
y  conformer. 

Je  suis  bien  surpris  qu'on  ne  m'a  pas  envoye  un  Officier 
Francois  avec  vous,  selon  la  coutume. 

J'ai  I'honneur  d'etre,  &c.  &c. 

De  Beleter." 

A  Monsieur  Monsieur  Rogers^ 

Major,  &  commandant  le 

detachment  Anglois." 

In  English  thus, 

"  Sir, 

"  I  received  the  letter  you  wrote  me  by  one  of  your 
Officers ;  but,  as  I  have  no  interpreter,  cannot  fully 
answer  it. 

The  Officer  that  delivered  me  yours,  gives  me  to  under- 
stand, that  he  was  sent  to  give  me  notice  of  your  arrival  to 
take  possession  of  this  garrison,  according  to  the  capitula- 
tion made  in  Canada ;  that  you  have  likewise  a  letter  from 
Mons.  Vaudreuil  directed  to  me.  I  beg,  Sir,  you'll  halt 
your  troops  at  the  entrance  of  the  river,  till  you  send  me 
the  capitulation  and  the  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil's  letter,  that 
I  may  act  in  conformity  thereto. 

I  am  surprised  there  is  no  French  Officer  sent  to  me 
along  with  you,  as  is  the  custom   on  such  occasions.     I 


have  the  honour  to  be,  &c.  Sic. 


"  To  Mr.  Rogers^  Major  and 
Commander  of  the  Eng 
lish  detachment." 


De  Beleter." 


Shortly  after  a  French  party,  under  Captain  Burrager, 
beat  a  parley  on  the  west  shore.;  I  sent  Mr.  M'Cor-nick  to 
know  his  business,  who  returned  with  the  Officer  and  the 
following  letter : 


•^mm 


i    ' 

;  i 
( 


194     yournals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

Detroit,  le  25me  Novembre,  1760. 

"  Monsieur, 

"Jevous  ai  deja  marque  par  Monsieur  Burrager  les 
raisons  pourquoi  je  ne  puis  repondre  en  detail  a  la  lettre 
qui  m'a  ete  remise  le  22me  du  courant,  par  I'Officier  que 
vous  m'avez  detache. 

J'ignore  les  raisons  pourquoi  il  n'a  pas  voulu  retourner 
aupres  de  vous.  J'ai  envoye  mon  interprete  Huron  chez 
cette  nation,  que  Ton  me  dit  etre  attroupe  sur  le  chemin 
de  les  contenir,  ne  fa(^hant  positivement  si  c'est  a  vous  ou 
a  nous  qu'ils  en  veuillent,  &  pour  leur  dire  de  ma  part, 
qu'ils  ayent  a  se  tenir  tranquilement  ;  que  je  savois  ce  que 
je  devois  a  mon  General,  &  que  de  lorsque  I'acte  de  la 
capitulation  seroit  regie,  j'etois  oblige  d'obeir.  Le  dit  in- 
terprete a  ordre  de  vous  attendre,  &  de  vous  remettre  la 
present.  Ne  soyez  point  surpris,  Monsieur,  si  sur  le  long 
de  la  cote  vous  trouverez  nos  habitans  sur  leur  garde  ;  on 
leur  a  annonce  qu'il  y  avoit  beaucoup  de  nations  a  votre 
suite,  a  qui  on  avois  promis  le  pillage,  &  que  lesdites 
nations  etoient  meme  determinees  a  vous  le  demander ;  je 
leur  ai  permis  de  regarder,  c'est  pour  votre  conservation  h 
surete  ainsi  que  pour  la  notre,  en  cas  que  les  dites  nations 
devenoient  a  saire  les  insolents,  vous  seul  ne  seriez  peut- 
etre  pas  dans  les  circonstances  presentesenetatde  les  reduire. 
Je  me  flatte,  Monsieur,  que  si  tot  que  la  present  vour  sera 
parvenue,  vous  voudriez  bien  m'envoyer  par  quelqu'un  de 
vos  Messieurs,  &  la  capitulation  &  la  lettre  de  Monsieur 
Vaudreuil.     J'ai  I'honneur  d'etre, 

Monsieur, 
,  Votre  tres-humble  &  obeissant  serviteur, 

Pign.  de  Beletere:' 
A  Monsieur  Monsieur  Rogers, 
Major,  commandant  le  de- 
tachment Anglois  au  bas  de 
la  riviere. 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     195 


nbre,  1760, 

lurrager  les 
1  a  la  lettre 
3fficier  que] 

n  retourner 
Fluron  chez 
r  le  chemin 
it  a  vous  ou 
de  ma  part, 
ivois  ce  que 
I'acte  de  la 
Le  dit  in- 
remettre  la 
i  sur  le  long 
r  garde  ;  on 
iona  a  votre 
^ue    lesdites 
mander ;  je 
iservation  & 
ites  nations 
leriez  peut- 
les  reduire. 
t  vour  sera 
uelqu'un  de 
le  Monsieur 


Iteur, 

iBeletere. 


In  English  thus  : 

"Sir,  Detroit,  25th  Nov.  1760. 

"  I  have  already  by  Mr.  Barrager  acquainted  you  with 
[the  reasons  why  I  could  not  answer  particularly  the  letter 
which  was  delivered  me  the  22d  instant  by  the  Officer  you 
Isent  to  me. 

"  I  am  entirely  unacquainted  with  the  reasons  of  his  not 
Ireturning  to  you.  I  sent  my  Huron  interpreter  to  that 
jnation,  and  told  him  to  stop  them,  should   they  be  on  the 

road,  not  knowing  positively  whether  they  were  inclined  to 
[favour  you  or  us,  and  to  tell  them  from  me  they  should 
jbehave  peaceably ;  that  I  knew  what  I  owed  to  my  General, 

ind  that  when   the  capitulation   should   be   settled   I  was 

)bliged   to  obey.     The  said   interpreter   has  orders  to  wait 

m  you,  and  deliver  you  this. 

''  Be  not  surprised.  Sir,  if  along  the  coast  you  Hnd  the 
inhabitants  upon  their  guard  ;  it  was  told  them  you  had 
several  Indian  nations  with  you,  to  whom  you  had  promised 
)ermission  to  plunder,  nay,  that  they  were  even  resolved  to 
force  you  to  it.  I  have  therefore  allowed  the  said  inhabit- 
ints  to  take  to  their  arms,  as  it  is  for  your  safety  and  pre- 
servation as  well  as  ours  ;  for  should  these  Indians  become 
insolent,  you  may  not  perhaps,  in  your  present  situation, 
)e  able  to  subdue  them  alone. 

"  I  flatter  myself.  Sir,  that,  as  soon  as  that  shall  come  to 
land,  you  will  send  me  by  some  of  the  Gentlemen  you 
lave  with  you,  both  the  capitulation  and  Monsieur  Vau- 
Ireuil's  letter.     I  have  the  honour  to  be, 

Sir, 

Your  very  humble  and  obe- 
dient servant, 
|Tfl  Major  Rogers. 

Pign.  Belttirt." 


I 


/M 


i 

s 

196     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 

We  encamped  the  next  day  five  miles  up  the  river, 
having  rowed  against  the  wind  ;  and  on  the  29th  I  dis- 
patched Captain  Campbell,  with  Messieurs  Barrager  and 
Babee  and  their  parties,  with  this  letter. 

*«  Sir, 
*'  I  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  two  letters,  both  of 
which  were  delivered  to  me  yesterday.      Mr.  Brheme   has 
not  yet  returned.     The  inclosed   letter  from  the  Marquis 
de  Vaudreuil  will  inform  you  of  the  surrender  of  all  Canada 
to  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  and  of  the  great  indulgence 
granted  to  the  inhabitants ;  as  also  of  the  terms  granted  to 
the  troops  of  his  Most  Christian  Majesty.    Captain  Camp- 
bell, whom  I  have  sent  forward  with  this  letter  will   shew 
you  the  capitulation.     I  desire  you  will  not  detain  him,  as 
I  am  determined,  agreeable  to  my  instructions  from  General 
Amherst,  speedily  to  relieve  your  post.     I  shall  stop  the 
troops  I  have  with    me  at   the  hither  end  of  the  town  till 
four  o'clock,   by  which   time  I  expect   your  answer ;  your 
inhabitants  under  arms  will   not  surprise  me,  as  yet  I  have 
seen  no  other  in  that  position,  but  savages  waiting  for  my 
orders.     I  can  assure  you.  Sir,  the  inhabitants  of  Detroit 
shall  not   be   molested,   they  and  you  complying  with  the 
capitulation,   but   be  protected   in   the  quiet  and   peaceable 
possession   of  their  estates ;  neither   shall  they  be  pillaged 
Indians,  nor  by  your's  that  have  joined  me. 


by  my 


■  by  your's 
I  am,  &c. 


R.  Rogers. 


To  Capt.  Beletere, 
commanding  at  Detroit. 

1  landed  at  half  a  mile  short  of  the  fort,  and  fronting  it,| 
where  I  drew  my  detachment  on  a  field  of  grass.  Herej 
Capt.  Campbell  joined  me,  and  with  him  came  a  Frencii 
officer,  to  inform  me*that  he  bore  Monsieur  Beleter's  coml 
pliments,  signifying  he  was  under  my  command.  Froffll 
hence  I  sent  Lieutenants  Leslie  and   M'Cormack,  witbl 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      197 

thirty-six  Royal  Americans,  to  take  possession  of  the  fort. 
The  French  garrison  laid  down  tiieir  arms,  English  colours 
were  hoisted,  and  the  French  taken  down,  at  which  about 
700  Indians  gave  a  shout,  merrily  exulting  in  their  predic- 
tion being  verified,  that  the  crow  represented  the  English. 

They  seemed  amazed  at  the  submissive  salutations  of 
the  inhabitants,  expressed  their  satisfaction  at  our  generosity 
in  not  putting  them  to  death,  and  said  they  would  always 
for  the  future  fight  for  a  nation  thus  favoured  by  Him  that 
made  the  world. 

I  went  into  the  fort,  received  a  plan  of  it,  with  a  list  of 
the  stores,  from  the  commanding  officer,  and  by  noon  of 
the  ist  of  December  we  had  collected  the  militia,  disarmed 
them,  and  to  them  also   administered   the  oaths  of  allegi- 

lance.* 

The  interval   from  this  time   to  the  9th   was  spent  in 

[preparing  to  execute   some  measures   that  appeared  to  be 

[necessary  to  the  service  we  were  upon.     I   put   Monsieur 

JBeletere  and  the  other  prisoners  under  the  care  of  Lieut. 

j  Holmes  and  thirty  Rangers,  to  be  carried  to  Philadelphia  ; 

and   ordered    Capt.    Campbell    and   his   company   to  keep 

possession  of  the  fort.     Lieut.  Butler  and  Ensign  Wait  were 

sent  with  a  detached  party  of  twenty  men,  to  bring  the  French 

troops  from  the    forts   Miamie  and  Gatanois.     I  ordered, 

thai,  if  possible,  a  party  should  subsist   at  the   former  this 

winter,  and  give  the  earliest  notice  at  Detroit  of  the  enemy's 

motions  in  the  country  of  the  Illinois.     I  sent  Mr.  M'Gee^ 


*  Major  Rogers  was  again  sent  to  Detroit  in  1763,  and  participated  in  the 
I  military  operations  of  that  year. 

In  a  work  entitled  "  Diary  of  the  siege  of  Detroit,  in  the  war  with  Pontiac," 
[etc.,  printed  in  i860,  under  the  supervision  of  the  editor  of  this  volume,  his 
Journal  is  given  (pages  121  to  135),  covering  the  period  from  May  6,  to  July 
U,  1763,  and  an  account  of  occurrences  attendmg  the  siege  of  Detroit  under 
[Pontiac,  within  these  dates.  The  original  is  found  in  the  Johmon  Manutcrifts, 
|vii,  116. — MumtlPi  Historical  Series,  No.  it,  small  410,  pp.  304. 


•  I  ^ ""'![ 


lit 


\i\ 


1 98     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

with  a  French  officer,  for  the  French  troops  at  the  Shawa- 
nese  town  on  the  Ohio.  And  as  provisions  were  scarce, 
directed  Capt.  Brewer  to  repair  with  the  greatest  part  of 
the  Rangers  to  Niagara,  detaining  Lieut.  M'Cormack  with 
thirty-seven  more,  to  go  with  me  to  Michlimakana. 

I  made  a  treaty  with  the  several  tribes  of  Indians  living 
in  the  neighbouring  country  ;  and  having  directed  Capt. 
Wait,  just  arrived  from  Niagara,  to  return  again  thither 
immediately,  I  set  out  for  Lake  Huron,  and  on  the  night 
of  the  loth  encamped  at  the  north  end  of  the  little  Lake 
St.  Clair,  and  the  next  evening  on  the  west-side  of  the 
streight,  at  the  entrance  of  a  considerable  river,  where 
many  Indians  were  hunting.  We  opened  Lake  Huron 
the  day  following,  and  saw  many  Indian  hunters  on  both 
sides  of  the  mouth  of  the  streights.  We  coasted  along  the 
west  shore  of  the  Lake,  about  twenty  miles  north-and  by 
west,  the  next  day  being  the  13th  forty,  and  the  15th 
thirty-eight  miles,  passing  the  cakes  of  ice  with  much  diffi- 
culty. We  could  not  advance  all  the  i6th  a  heavy  north- 
wind  setting  the  cakes  of  ice  on  the  south-shore  in  such 
quantities,  that  we  could  find  no  passage  between  them. 
I  consulted  the  Indians  about  a  journey  to  Michlimakana 
across  by  land ;  but  they  declared  it  impracticable  at  this 
season  without  snow-shoes,  and  to  our  great  mortification 
we  were  obliged  to  return  to  Detroit  \  the  ice  obstructing 
us  so  much,  that  with  the  greatest  diligence  and  fatigue, 
we  did  not  arrive  there  till  the  21st. 

I  delivered  the  ammunition  to  Capt.  Campbell,  and  on 
the  23d  set  out  for  Pittsburg,  marching  along  the  west-end 
of  Lake  Erie,  till  the  2d  of  January,  1761,  when  we  arrived 
at  Lake  Sandusky. 

I  have  a  very  g'^od  opinion  ot  the  soil  from  Detroit  to 
this  place  ;  it  is  timbsreJ  principally  with  white  and  black 
oaks,  hickerie,  locusts,  and  maple.  We  found  wild  apples 
along  the  west-end  of  Lake  Erie,  some  rich  savannahs  of 


Journais  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,     1 99 


:  Shawa- 
;  scarce, 
t  part  of 
lack  with 
I. 

ins  living 
ed  Capt. 
n  thither 
the  night 
ttle  Lake 
le   of  the 
sr,  where 
:e    Huron 
)  on  both 
along  the 
rth-and  by 
the    15th 
nuch  diffi- 
avy  north- 
re  in  such 
een  them, 
ilimakana 
)le  at  this 
)rtification 
bstructing 
id  fatigue, 

1,  and  on 
west-end 
we  arrived 


several  miles  extent,  without  a  tree,  but  cloathed  with 
jointed  grass  near  six  feet  high,  which  rotting  there  every 
year,  adds  to  the  fertility  of  the  soil.  The  length  of  San- 
dusky is  about  fifteen  miles  from  east  to  west,  and  about 
six  miles  across  it.  We  came  to  a  town  of  the  Windot 
Indians,  where  we  halted  to  refresh. 

On  January  3d,  south-east-by-east  three  miles,  east-by 
south  one  mile  and  a  half,  south-east  a  mile  through  a 
meadow,  crossed  a  small  creek  about  six  yards  wide,  run- 
ning east,  travelled  south-east  by-east  one  mile,  passed 
through  Indian  houses,  south-east  three  quarters  of  a  mile, 
and  came  to  a  small  Indian  town  of  about  ten  houses. 
There  is  a  remarkable  fine  spring  at  this  place,  rising  out 
of  the  side  of  a  small  hill  with  such  force,  that  it  boils 
above  the  ground  in  a  column  three  feet  high.  I  imagine 
it  discharges  ten  hogsheads  of  water  in  a  minute.  From 
this  town  our  course  was  south-south-east  three  miles, 
south  two  miles,  crossed  a  brook  about  five  vards  wide, 
running  east-south-east,  travelled  south  one  mile,  crossed  a 
brook  about  four  yards  wide,  running  east-south-east, 
travelled  south-south-east  two  miles,  crossed  a  brook  about 
eight  yards  wide.  This  day  we  killed  plenty  of  deer  and 
turkies  on  our  march,  and  encamped. 

On  the  4th  we  travelled  south-south-east  one  mile,  and 
come  to  a  river  about  twenty-five  yards  wide,  crossed  the 
river,  where  are  two  Indian  houses,  from  thence  south-by 
east  one  mile,  south-south- east  one  mile  and  a  half,  south- 
south  east  two  miles,  south-east  one  mile,  and  came  to  an 
Indian  house,  where  there  was  a  family  of  Windots  hunt- 
ing, from  thence  south-by-east  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  south 
five  miles,  came  to  the  river  we  crossed  this  morning;  the 
course  of  the  river  here  is  west-north-west.  This  day 
killed   several  deer  and  other  game,  and  encamped. 

19 


;     ' 


!   / 


2O0     'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 

On  the  5th  traveled  south-south-west  half  a  mile,  south 
one  mile,  south-south-west  three  quarters  of  a  mile,  south 
half  a  mile,  crossed  two  small  brooks  running  east,  went  a 
south-south-west  course  half  a  mile,  south  half  a  mile, 
south-east  half  a  mile,  south  two  miles,  southeast  one  mile, 
south  half  a  mile,  crossed  a  brook  running  east-by-north, 
traveled  south  by-east  half  a  mile,  south>south-east  two 
miles,  south-east  three  quarters  of  a  mile,  south-south-east 
one  mile,  and  came  to  Maskongom  Creek,*  about  eight 
yards  wide,  crossed  the  creek,  and  encamped  about  thirty 
yards  from  it.  This  day  killed  deer  and  turkies  in  our 
march. 

On  the  6th  we  traveled  about  fourteen  or  fifteen  miles, 
our  general  course  being  about  east-south-east,  killed  plenty 
of  game,  and  encamped  by  u  very  fine  spring. 

The  7th  our  general  course  about  south-east,  traveled 
about  six  miles,  and  crossed  Maskongom  Creek,  running 
south,  about  twenty  yards  wide.  There  is  an  Indian  town 
about  twenty  yards  from  the  creek,  on  the  east  side,  which 
is  called  the  Mingo  Cabbins.  There  were  but  two  or 
three  Indians  in  the  place,  the  rest  were  hunting.  These 
Indians  have  plenty  of  cows,  horses,  hogs,  &c. 

The  8th,  halted  at  this  town  to  mend  our  mogasons,  and 
kill  deer,  the  provisions  I  brought  from  Detroit  being  en- 
tirely expended.  I  went  a-hunting  with  ten  of  the  Ran- 
gers, and  by  ten  o'clock  got  more  venison  than  we  had 
occasion  for. 

On  the  9th  travelled  about  twelve  miles,  our  general 
course  being  about  south-east,  and  encamped  by  the  side 
of  a  long  meadow,  where  there  were  a  number  of  Indians 
hunting. 


*  Muskingum. 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     201 


le,  south 
le,  south 
t,  went  a 
a  mile, 
one  mile, 
by-north, 
east  two 
outh-east 
)ut  eight 
)ut  thirty 
:s  in  our 

en   miles, 
led  plenty 

,  traveled 
:,  running 
lian  town 
de,  which 
t  two  or 
These 

isons,  and 
being  en- 
the  Ran- 
we   had 


ir  general 

the  side 

f  Indians 


')' 


The  10th,  about  the  same  course,  we  travelled  eleven 
miles,  and  encamped,  having  killed  in  our  march  this  day 
three  bears  and  two  elks. 

The  1 2th,  continuing  near  the  same  course,  we  travelled 
thirteen  miles  and  encamped,  where  were  a  number  of 
Wyandots  and  Six  Nation  Indians  hunting. 

The  1 2th,  travelled  six  miles,  bearing  rather  more  to 
the  east,  and  encamped.  This  evening  we  killed  several 
beaver. 

The  13th,  travelled  about  north-east  six  miles,  and  came 
to  the  Delaware's  town,  called  Beaver  Town.  This  Indian 
town  stands  on  good  land,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Mas- 
kongom  River  ;  and  opposite  to  the  town,  on  the  east  side, 
is  a  fine  river,  which  discharges  itself  into  it.  The  latter 
is  about  thirty  yards  wide,  and  the  Maskongom  about  forty; 
so  that  when  they  both  join,  they  make  a  very  fine  stream, 
with  a  swift  current,  running  to  the  south-west.  There 
are  about  3,000  acres  of  cleared  ground  round  this  place. 
The  number  of  warriors  in  this  town  is  about  180.  All 
the  way  from  the  Lake  Sandusky  I  found  level  land,  and  a 
good  country.  No  pine-trees  of  any  sort  ;  the  timber  is 
white,  black  and  yellow  oak,  black  and  white  walnut, 
Cyprus,  chestnut,  and  locust  trees;  At  this  town  I  staid 
till  the  i6th  in  the  morning  to  refresh  my  party,  and  pro- 
cured some  corn  of  the  Indians  to  boil  with  our  venison. 

On  the  1 6th  we  marched  nearly  an  east  course  about 
nine  miles,  and  encamped  by  the  side  of  a  small  river. 

On  the  17th  kept  much  the  same  course,  crossing  sev- 
eral rivulets  and  creeks.  We  travelled  about  twenty  miles, 
and  encamped  by  the  side  of  a  small  river. 

On  the  1 8th  we  travelled  about  sixteen  miles  an  easterly 
course,  and  encamped  by  a  brook. 

The  19th,  about  the  same  general  course,  we  crossed 
two  considerable  streams  of  water,  and  some  large  hills 
timbered  with  chestnut  and  oak,  and  having  travelled  about 


'  i 

Ki 

1 

II 

202     Journals  oj  Major  Robert  Rogers, 


w\ 


twenty  miles,  we  encamped  by  the  side  of  a  small  river,  at 
which  place  were  a  number  of  Delawares  hunting. 

On  the  20th,  keeping  still  an  easterly  course,  and  having 
much  the  same  travelling  as  the  day  before,  we  advanced 
on  our  journey  about  nineteen  miles,  which  brought  us  to 
Beaver  Creek,  where  are  two  or  three  Indian  houses,  on 
the  west  side  of  the  creek,  and  in  sight  of  the  Ohio. 

Bad  weather  prevented  our  journeying  on  the  2ist,  but 
the  next  day  we  prosecuted  our  march.  Having  crossed 
the  creek,  we  travelled  twenty  miles,  nearly  south-east, 
and  encamped  with  a  party  of  Indian  hunters. 

On  the  23d  we  came  again  to  the  Ohio,  opposite  to 
Fort  Pitt,  from  whence  I  ordered  Lieut.  M'Cormick  to 
march  the  party  across  the  country  to  Albany,  and,  after 
tarrying  there  till  the  26th,  I  came  the  common  road  to 
Philadelphia,  from  thence  to  New  York,  where,  after  this 
long,  fatiguing  tour,  I  arrived  February  14,  1761. 


1 

\ 

1 

1 

i 
) 

1 

1 

b 

Li,.  1 

APPENDIX  A. 


Commission  and  Instructions  of  Sir  William  John- 
son, IN  THE  Command  of  Provincial  Troops  raised 
IN  1755,  FOR  THE  Reduction  of  the  French  Fort 
AT  Crown  Point. 

Commission  of  Sir  ff^illiam   "Johnson  ,  as  Commander-in-  Chief 
of  the  Provincial  Forces  raised  for  the  Reduction  of  Crown 
Points 

^•^  His  Excellency  William  Shirley,  Esq.,  Captain 
Geneial  and  Commander-in-Chief,  in  and  over 
His  Majesty's  Province  of  the  Massachusetts 
Bay  in  new  England,  and  ihe  Lands  and  Ter- 
ritories thereon  depending ;  Vice  Admiral  of 
the  Same,  and  Colonel  in  His  Majesty's  Army. 

To  William  Johnson,  Esq^,  Greeting: 

Whereas  by  my  messages  on  the  13th  and  15th  days 
of  last  February  to  his  Majesty's  Council  and  House 
of  Representatives  for  the  aforesaid  Province,  in  Great  and 
General  Court  Assembled,  recommending  to  them  to  make 
provision  for  carrying  on  an  attempt  in  conjunction  with 
some  of  His  Majesty's  other  neighbouring  Governments,  to 
erect  a  Strong  fortress  upon  an  Eminence  near  the  French 
Fort   at    Crown    Point,   and    other    services    in   the   said 

*  Johnson  MSS.,  i}  153. 


f    i 


204     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

Messages  expressed :  In  answer  to  which  the  said  the 
Houses  of  the  aforesaid  Assembly  by  their  message  to  me, 
on  the  eighteenth  of  the  same  February,  among  other 
things  therein  contained,  desired  me  forthwith  to  make  the 
necessary  preparations  for  such  an  expedition,  to  appoint 
and  commissionate  a  general  officer,  to  command  the  same, 
to  advise  His  Majesty's  other  governments  thereinafter 
mentioned,  of  the  said  designs,  and  in  such  manner  as  I 
should  think  most  effectual,  to  urge  them  to  join  therein, 
and  to  raise  their  respective  proportions  of  Men,  as  follows, 
vizt  :  New  Hampshire,  600  ;  Connecticut,  lOOO  ;  Rhode 
Island,  400  ;  New  York,  800,  or  such  larger  proportions 
as  each  of  t !ie  said  governments  should  think  proper,  and 
to  cause  twelf  hundred  men  to  be  enlist  d  for  the  service 
of  the  Sd  Expedition,  as  the  proportion  of  the  Province  of 
Massachusetts  Bay,  as  soon  as  it  should  appear  that  the 
three  thousand  men  proposed  to  be  raised  by  the  aforesaid 
Colonies  of  New  Hampshire,  Connecticut,  Rhode  Island 
and  New  York,  should  be  agreed  to  be  raised. 

And  whereas,  in  consequence  of  my  aforesaid  messages, 
recommendmg  the  said  Expedition,  and  of  the  Resolves  of 
the  Assembly  of  Massachusetts  Bay  thereupon,  (copies  of 
both  which  I  transmitted  to  the  beforementioned  four 
neighbouring  Governments  together  with  a  letter  to  each 
of  them,  to  join  in  the  same,  as  proposed  by  the  Assembly 
of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  ;)  and  nominally  you  to  be  the 
Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Provincial  Forces  to  be  em- 
ployed in  the  said  Expedition,  the  Governments  of  New 
York,  New  Hampshire,  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island, 
have  agreed  to  raise  in  the  whole,  2,900  men,  for  His 
Majesty's  Service  in  the  said  Expedition,  which  with  1,500 
men  since  agreed  to  be  raised  for  the  aforesa'd  service,  by 
the  Massachusetts  Bay,  will  make  up  4,100  men,  and  ac- 
quiesced in  my  nomination  o^  you  to  be  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  the  said  forces. 


aasTEsaiSsHSESSsHSsE 


'S. 

said  the 
»ge  to  me, 
jng    other 

make  the 
to  appoint 

the  same, 
lereinafter 
inner  as  I 
in  therein, 
IS  follows, 

0  ;  Rhode 
iroportions 
roper,  and 
he  service 
rovince  of 
r  that  the 
e  aforesaid 
ode  Island 

messages, 
.esolves  of 

(copies  of 
oned  four 
er  to  each 

Assembly 

1  to  be  the 
to  be  em- 
;s  of  New 
>de  Island, 
n,  for  His 
with  1,500 
service,  by 
;n,  and  ac- 
mander-in- 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      205 

And  whereas,  his  Excellency  Major  General  Braddock, 
Commander-in  Chief  of  All  His  Majesty's  Forces  in  North 
America,  hath  since  approved  of  my  appointment  of  you  to 
the  said  command  :  Now  reposing  especial  trust  and  con 
fidence  in  your  fidelity,  courage  and  good  conduct,  I  do 
by  Virtue  of  the  authority  to  me  granted  in  and  by  His 
Majesty's  Royal  Commission,  under  the  Great  seal  of 
Great  Britain,  and  in  consequence  of  the  several  proceed- 
ings of  the  governments  of  the  aforesaid  colonies  of  New 
England  and  New  York,  and  of  the  approbation  of  Major 
General  Braddock,  appoint  you  to  be  Major  General  and 
Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Forces  raised  and  to  be  raised, 
by  the  aforesaid  five  Governments,  or  any  of  them  for  the 
service  of  the  aforesaid  expedition,  as  also  of  such  Indians 
as  shall  assist  His  Majesty  in  the  same  :  You  are  there- 
fore to  take  upon  you  the  command  of  the  said  Forces,  and 
diligently  to  execute  the  duty  and  office  of  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  said  expedition,  according  to  such  instructions 
as  you  shall  receive  from  me,  bearing  even  date  with  these 
presents,  and  to  follow  such  further  orders  as  you  shall 
from  time  to  time  receive  from  me,  or  any  your  superior 
officer  herein  :  Hereby  requiring  all  officers  and  soldiers  em- 
ployed, or  to  be  employed  by  the  aforesaid  five  governments, 
in  the  said  expedition,  to  obey  you  as  their  commander  in- 
chief. 

Given  under  my  Hand  and  Seal  at  arms,  the 
i6th  day  of  April,  in  the  28th  year  of  the 
reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord,  George  the 
Second,  by  the  Gracp  of  God,  of  Great 
Britain,  France  and  i.eland,  King,  De- 
fender of  the  Faith,  etc.,  and  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  Christ,  1755. 

W.  SHIRLEY. 

By  His  Excellency's  command, 

Wm.  Alexander, 

Secretary  pro  hac  vice. 


w^ 


>  *i 


206      'Journals  of  Majbr  Robert  Rogers. 


\ 


A  commission  was  also  issued  by  Lieutenant  Governor 
James  De  Lancey,  of  New  York,  of  substantially  the  same 
import.* 

Instructions  from  Governor  Shirley  to  General  Sir  JVilliam 
Johnson  in  his  Expedition  against  the  French  at  Crown 
Point. ■\ 

By  his  Excellency,  William  Shirley,  Esq.,  Captain 
General  and  Commander-in-Chief  in  and  over 
the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in 
New  England  and  of  the  Lands  and  Territories 
thereon  depending,  Vice  Admiral  of  the  Same, 
and  Colonel  in  His  Majesty's  army. 

To  William  Johnson,  Esq.,  Grketing 

Whereas  by  my  commission  dated  this  day,  under  my 
seal  at  arms,  I  have  appointed  you  to  be  Major  General 
and  Commander-in-chief,  of  the  forces  now  raising  by  the 
said  Goverment  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  New  York, 
New  Hampshire,  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island,  for  an 
expedition  against  the  French  incroachments  at  Crown 
Point  and  upon  the  Lake  Champlain,  as  also  of  such 
Indians  as  shall  assist  in  the  service  of  the  above  expedi- 
tion i  I  do  hereby  give  you  the  following  Instructions  and 
Orders  for  the  regulation  of  your  conduct. 

istly.  You  are  to  engage  as  soon  as  possible  as  many  of 
the  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations,  as  you  can  in  the  aforesaid 
service,  upon  the  .encouragement  proposed  to  be  given 
them  by  the  aforesaid  colonies  ;  as  also  those  ordered  by 
his  Excellency's  Major  General  Braddock  to  be  given  them 


*  Johnson  MSS.,  1,  154. 
I  Johnson  MSS.,  i,  152. 


I'fSlkMUfU 


f. 


jovernor 
the  same 


IVilliam 
It    Crown 

,  Captain 

and  over 

Bay    in 

territories 

he  Same, 


•TING  ; 

inder  my 

General 

ng  by  the 

;w  York, 

id,  for  an 

Crown 

such 

expedi- 

ions  and 


r 

Ul 


many  of 
laforesaid 

»e  given 
Id  e  red  by 
Ten  them 


yournals  of  Major  'Robert  Rogers,     207 

in  his  Majesty's  name,  and  you  are  to  appoint  such  officer 
to  lead  and  conduct  the  said  Indians  as  you  shall  judge  for 
his  Majesty's  service. 

idly.  When  you  shall  have  finished  your  aforesaid  business 
with  the  Indians,  you  are  to  repair  to  the  city  of  Albany, 
and  there  wait  the  arrival  of  the  forces  to  be  employed  in 
the  aforesaid  expedition  and  as  soon  as  such  number  of 
them  shall  arrive  as  you  shall  judge  sufficient  for  the 
service,  you  are  to  proceed  with  the  train  of  artillery  and 
ordnance  stores  provided  for  the  expedition  under  convoy 
to  Crown  Point,  clearing  as  you  pass  along  a  practicable 
road  for  the  transportation  of  them,  and  the  other  stores 
and  to  cause  such  strong  houses  and  places  of  security  to 
be  erected  as  shall  be  required  to  serve  for  Magazines  of 
stores,  places  of  Shelter  for  the  men  in  their  march,  and 
return  to  and  from  the  said  city  of  Albany  ;  and  you 
are  to  leave  the  necessary  orders  for  such  of  the  said 
forces  as  shall  not  be  arrived  at  the  time  of  your  departure 
from  Albany,  to  follow  you  to  Crown  Point  as  soon  as 
may  be. 

3^/v.  Upon  your  arrival  at  Crown  Point,  you  are  to  cause 
one  or  more  Batteries  to  be  erected  upon  the  rocky  eminence 
nigh  Fort  St.  Frederick,  or  as  near  as  may  be  to  the  said 
forr  upon  the  most  advantageous  ground  for  commanding 
the  same,  and  to  point  the  said  Battery  or  Batteries  against 
th?  said  Fort,  rnd  in  case  you  shall  Meet  with  any  resis- 
I  Micp  in  tiie  erecting  of  said  Battery  or  Batteries,  from  the 
iiS'jarrison  oi'  Fort  Frederick,  you  are  to  attack  the  same  ; 
I'd  ise  vour  utmost  efforts  to  dislodge  the  French  Garrison, 
1. 1  take  possession  thereof. 

4*/';  V.  In  case  you  shall  not  be  interrupted  or  annoyed 
by  the  French  in  erecting  the  said  Batteries,  then,  as  soon 
as  you  shall  have  finished  the  same  you  are  to  send  a 
summons   to  the  Commandant  of  Fort    St.    Frederick,  re- 


!  ( 


2o8     yournals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


:■  I 


quiring  him  foithwith  to  retire  with  the  garrison  under  his 
command  from  the  same  as  being  an  encroachment  upon 
his  Majesty's  territories,  within  the  Country  belonging  to  the 
Indians  of  the  Six  Nations,  and  erected  contrary  to  the  Treaty 
of  Utrecht,  made  between  the  Crowns  of  Great  Britain 
and  France,  whereby  the  Indians  of  the  then  Six  Nations 
are  expressly  declared  to  be  subject  to  the  Crown  of  Great 
Britain  ;  and  in  case  the  the  said  commandant  shall  upon 
such  summons,  refuse  or  neglect  to  evacuate  the  same,  you 
are  to  compel  him  to  do  it  by  force  of  arms,  and  to  break 
up  all  the  French  settlements  which  you  shall  find  near 
the  said  fort,  or  upon  the  lake  Champlain. 

rthjy.  If  you  should  succeed  in  your  attempt  against 
i  .t.  Frederick,  you  are  immediately  upon  becoming 
ma.  r  cf  it,  to  strengthen  yourself  therein,  and  erect  such 
works,  as,  with  the  advice  of  a  Council  of  War  which  you 
shall  summon  for  that  purpose,  you  shall  think  necessary 
to  preserve  that  important  post  ;  and  you  are  to  put  into  it 
such  a  garrison,  as  you  shall  judge  sufficient  to  maintain  the 
same.  But  as  the  said  Fort  may  not  be  situated  in  the 
most  convenient  or  advantageous  place  for  securing  the 
possession  of  that  Country  to  the  English,  you  are  by  your- 
self and  your  officers  to  survey  and  examine  the  several 
places  upon  the  Lake  Champlain,  and  to  find  out  such 
other  places  as  you  and  a  Council  of  War  shall  judge  best 
to  answer  that  purpose,  of  which  you  are  to  give  me  im- 
mediate notice,  with  vour  and  the  Council's  reasons  for 
making  the  choice  of  the  place  you  shall  agree  upon,  that 
I  may  be  enabled  to  give  the  necessary  orders  for  fortifying 
the  same. 

(ithly.  You  are  to  give  me  a  regular  and  constant  account, 
from  time  to  time,  of  what  you  do,  in  the  discharge  of  the 
trust  reposed  in  you,  ^which  you  are  to  transmit  by  express 
to  me  wherever  I  shall  happen  to  be. 


TS. 

n  under  his 
iment  upon 
nging  to  the 
)  the  Treaty 
reat  Britain 
Six  Nations 
irn  of  Great 
shall  upon 
:  same,  you 
nd  to  break 
11   find  near 

npt  against 
1  becoming 
1  erect  such 
•  which  you 
k  necessary 
3  put  into  it 
naintain  the 
ated  in  the 
ecuring  the 
ire  by  your- 
the  several 
id    out  such 

judge  best 
ive  me  im- 
reasons  tor 

upon,  that 
)r  fortifying 

int  account, 
large  of  the 
by  express 


Journals  of  Major  Kobert  Rogers.      209 

jthfy.  You  are  by  means  of  the  Indians,  or  any  other 
means,  to  procure  the  best  intelligence  you  can  of  the 
designs  and  motions  of  the  French,  the  number  of  any 
Body  of  Troops  they  may  employ  to  oppose  you,  or  any 
other  of  the  King's  forces,  all  which  you  are  to  communi- 
cate to  me  from  time  to  time. 

Htbfy.  You  are  to  acquaint  the  Indians  of  the  Six 
Nations,  if  you  shall  judge  it,  from  the  temper  vou  find 
them  in,  proper  to  do  so,  with  his  Majesty's  design  to 
recover  the  lands  upon  the  Niagara  and  upon  the  Ohio 
River  out  of  the  hands  of  the  French,  and  to  protect  them 
against  future  incroachments  for  the  benefit  of  their  tribes 
and  to  encourage  some  of  them  to  meet  me  at  Oswego,  in 
order  to  assist  me  thereto,  upon  such  services  as  I  shall 
order  rhem  to  go  upon ;  assuring  them  of  my  good  dis- 
position towards  their  several  castles,  and  that  they  shall 
be  generously  entertained  by  me. 

Lastly.  You  are  to  use  your  discretion  in  acting  for  the 
good  of  his  Majesty's  Service,  consistant  with  the  instruc- 
tions before  given  you  in  the  business  committed  to  your 
charge,  in  any  matters  concerning  which  you  have  no 
particular  instructions  given  you  ;  acquainting  me  con- 
stantly with  your  doing  there,  as  soon  as  possible. 

Given    under    my  hand  ye    sixteenth   day    of 
June,  1755. 

W.  SHIRLEY. 

"Lake  St.  Sacrament,  29th  Aug.,  1755. 

"  Sir  :  We  arrived  here  yesterday  evening  and  made  a 
temporary  encampment  in  which  we  continue.  We  found 
no  ground  cleared  but  we  are  about  it.  However  until 
Capt.  Eyre  comes  up,  a  place  for  a  fort  fixed  on,  a  more 
regular  encampment  made,  and  ground  laid  out  for  the  use 


21  o     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

of  the  army  (all  which  I  hope  will  be  done  in  a  day  or 
two),  I  must  beg  you  will  not  move.  I  would  wish  the 
heavy  artillery  to  come  along  while  the  weather  is  dry,  but 
not  the  stores  till  you  come.  A  working  party  must  set 
out  a  little  before  to  repair  the  road  in  those  places  where 
it  may  require.  I  think  50  men  for  the  guard,  25  working 
for  the  road,  and  25  to  cover  them  will  be  sufficient,  as  I 
have  sent  out  this  morning  reconnoitering  parties  several 
ways. 

"  You  will  take  care  the  waggons    now  sent   return  as 
soon  as  possible.      Upon  their  return,  1  shall  dispatch  them 
back  to  you  and  send  orders  for  your  Marching. 
"  I  am  sir,  your  most  humble  servant, 

Wm.  Johnson. 

Tfl  Alaj.  Gen.  Lyman, 

*•'  You  must  keep  a  good  look  out  upon  the  Waggoners  or 
they  will  desert.     If  attempted,  make  an  example." 


ill 


APPENDIX  B. 


Settlement  of  the  Claims  of   Major  Rogers  upon 
THE  Provincial  Government  of  New  Hampshire. 

Entry  in  the  'Journal  of  Council  and  House.      June  5,  1761. 

'*•  The  Memorial  of  Maj.  Robert  Rogers  setting  forth 
that  in  the  year  175^,  he  was  ordered  to  remain  with  a 
company  at  Fort  William   Henry   during  the   Winter  of 


Hi 


ri. 


"journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     211 


1  a  day  or 
d  wish  the 
is  dry,  but 
y  must  set 
aces  where 
25  working 
[icient,  as  I 
ties  several 

it   return  as 
patch  them 

fOHNSON. 


aggoners  or 
ble." 


GERS    UPON 
MPSHIRE. 

ie  5,  1761. 

etting  forth 
nain  with  a 
Winter  of 


1755,  and  till  the  spring  of  1756,  &c.,  for  which  he  nor 
his  Company  had  received  any  allowance,  and  prays  the 
Consideration  of  the  General  Assembly  that  they  would 
set  a  time  for  him  to  produce  his  vouchers,  &c.,  read  and 
sent  down." 

House  'Journal^  June  26,  1761. 

"  The  Memorial  of  Major  Robert  Rogers  and  the 
Muster  roll  of  his  Company  therein  referred  to  with  the 
certificates  thereto  relating,  read,  and  Major  Rogers  being 
admitted  into  the  House  by  his  desire  said  what  he  had  to 
say  in  order  to  inforce  his  Memorial  and  retired. 

"  The  House  took  the  matter  under  Consideration  im- 
mediately, and  it  being  after  twelve  o'clock,  a.  m.,  and  the 
House  being  informed  they  were  to  be  prorogued  this  fore- 
noon, and  there  being  no  time  for  a  mature  deliberation 
and  debates  thereon,  and  Major  Rogers  not  having  his 
vouchers  with  him  to  support  his  Memorial,  he  was  ordered 
into  the  House,  and  by  the  Speaker  was  told  the  minds  of 
the  House,  viz  : — That  the  House  was  ready  to  do  every 
thing  in  regard  to  his  Memorial  that  consisted  with  Honour 
and  Strict  Justice,  and  that  if  he  had  paid  any  Moneys  to 
any  of  his  Company  as  therein  represented,  he  must  produce 
the  vouchers  therefor,  and  then  the  House  would  im- 
mediately proceed  on  the  consideration  of  his  Memorial ; 
but  untill  that  was  done  and  as  the  House  was  to  be  im- 
mediately prorogued,  they  could  not  with  any  propriety  act 
thereon  now,  and  then  was  ordered  to  withdraw."* 

On  the  25th  of  January,  1763,  Major  Rogers  again 
memorialized  the  House,  and  on  the  28th,  he  was  admitted, 
and  presented  his  Roll  for  a  company  of  men  in  the  service 
of  the  colony  in  1756,  at  Fort  William  Henry,  and  swore 
to  the  same.     Finally,  on  the  ist  of  February,  1763,  an 


*  Ntw  Ham fs Aire  Provincial  Papers ;  vi,  790,  794, 


i  t 


2 1 2     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 

allowance  of  .£235  lis.  g^d.  sterling,  was  granted  for  43 
men,   in  the  winter   in  which   this   service  was  rendered.* 

The  Muster  Roll  of  the  New  Hampshire  Company 
commanded  by  Capt.  Robert  Rogers,  left  by  order  of  a 
council  of  war  held  at  Lake  George  in  November,  1755, 
in  connection  with  commissions  appointed  for  several  prov- 
inces of  New  England,  to  garrison  the  forts  in  the  winter 
of  1755,  and  under  the  command  of  Col.  Jonathan  Bagley, 
Esq.,  from  the  25th  of  November,  1755,  to  June  6  in- 
clusive, is  given  in  Report  of  the  Adjutant  General  of  New 
Hampshire  for  1866,  vol.  11,  p.  156.  Four  names  on  the 
roll  were  those  of  Indians,  their  pay  was  £15  per  month, 
old  tenor. 

At  the  council  of  war  above  mentioned,  it  was  promised 
that  four  hundred  and  fifty  men,  officers  included,  should 
be  immediately  enlisted  or  drafted  out  of  the  troops  then 
in  camp  to  be  employed  during  the  winter  to  garrison  Fort 
Edward  and  Fort  William  Henry,  for  which  they  promised 
both  officers  and  men  that  their  pay  should  be  continued 
until  they  were  relieved  and  the  commissioners  further 
promised  that  they  would  lay  the  affairs  before  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  several  governments  represented,  imme- 
diately after  their  return  home,  for  their  consideration,  for 
the  allowance  of  a  bounty  for  each  man  who  should  then 
remain. 

A  memorial  of  Capt.  Rogers  addressed  to  Lord  Am 
herst,  and  endorsed  under  date  of  May  23,  1760,  presents 
his  claim  for  £486  19;.  id.,  lawful  money  of  the  Province, 
for  services  rendered  in  the  winter  of  1755-6,  with  his 
company,  t 


*  New  Hamptkirt  Provimial  Papers,  vi,  86l,  865,  866  ;  Adjutant  General'i 
Report,  New  Hamp.,  1866,  11,  157. 
f  Johnton  MSS.,  xxiv,  84,  86. 


rs, 

ued  for  43 
rendered.* 

Company 
order  of  a 
jber,  1755, 
:veral  prov- 
the  winter 
lan  Bagley, 
June  6  in- 
:ral  of  New 
Lmes  on  the 
per  month, 

as  promised 
ided,  should 
troops  then 
irrison  Fort 
ey  promised 
:  continued 
lers  further 
the  General 
ited,  imme- 
leration,  for 
ihould   then 

Lord  Am 
5o,  presents 
e  Province, 
6,  with   his 


Ijutant  GeneraPi 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,     213 

In  answer  to  inquiries  from  Lord  Amherst,  Sir  William 
Johnson  replied  :  '*  With  regard  to  Major  Roger's  affair, 
my  memory  does  not  serve  me  to  recollect  particulars  of 
the  agreement  between  him  and  the  Commissioners,  but 
this  I  know  that  I  recommended  him,  that  he  served,  and 
I  think  he  ought  to  be  paid."* 

Again  in  writing  Jan.  26,  1760,  he  says:  "I  think 
Rogers  has  done  very  well,  as  he  merits  y'  Excellency's 
approbation,  and  I  hope  Lieut.  Holmes  will  also  succeed."! 


APPENDIX  C. 


Extracts   from    Correspondence    and    Documents, 

RELATING   TO   MaJOR  RoGERS'  CoNDUCT  AT    MlCHILI- 
MACKINAC,  IN    I  766-8. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  following  extracts,  that  Major 
Rogers,  on  his  return  from  England,  soon  after  the  publica- 
tion of  his  *'  Journals,"  and  the  "  Concise  Account,"  etc., 
was  appointed  commandant  of  the  Military  Post  at  Mishi- 
limackinac,  under  orders  from  England,  and  sadly  against 
the  better  judgment  of  Sir  William  Johnson,  whose  keen 
perception  of  character  in  this  instance  was  most  fully  vin- 
dicated in  the  result.  Finding  this  however  a  matter  which 
he  could  not  prevent  this  sagacious  superintendent  of  Indian 
Affairs,  lost  no  time  in  endeavoring  to  control  Rogers  in  the 

*  yobnson  MSS.,  xxiv,  87. 
■j-  Johnton  MSS.,  xxiv,  93. 


•  ( 


I 


'i 


J 


l( 


214     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 


best  manner  he  was  able,  by  tying  him  up  in  the  instructions, 
and  limiting  to  narrow  limits,  his  authority  to  incur  expense. 
He  repeatedly  and  forcibly  expresses  in  the  very  I; -ginning, 
his  utter  distrust  of  the  man's  principles,  and  fitness  for  the 
post,  and  declares  that  however  well  qualified  he  might 
have  shown  himself  to  be  as  a  Ranger,  he  was  lacking 
in  judgment,  as  well  as  honesty,  and  wholly  untrust- 
worthy in  the  management  of  accounts.  In  his  previous 
employment  in  the  western  country,  while  still  a  pro- 
vincial officer,  he  had  engaged  in  Indian  trade,  and  he 
foresaw  that  as  commandant  on  a  remote  and  impor- 
tant trading  post,  he  would  inevitably  get  engaged  in 
speculation,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  to  the  detriment 
of  the  public  service,  and  the  general  interests  of  the  Indian 
trade.  It  appears  that  the  conduct  of  Major  Rogers, 
while  in  transient  authority  at  Oswego,  on  his  way  up  the 
lakes,  had  led  an  official  to  remark,  that  he  considered  him- 
self "  not  bound  by  instructions,  unless  they  conformed  to 
his  own  interests  ;"  and  he  lost  no  time  in  following  up 
this  loose  maxim  of  policy,  as  opportunities  presented. 

Major  Rogers'  instructions  were  dated  January  10,  1766. 
He  was  a  short  time  in  the  summer  following,  at  Oswego, 
and  on  the  23d  of  July  of  that  year,  was  present  at  an  Indian 
Conference  held  at  that  place.  He  probably  reached 
Michilimackinac,  in  the  month  of  August. 

The  following  letters  and  documents,  are  now,  in  part, 
for  the  first  time  published,  and  will  show  his  management 
of  affairs,  in  a  station  to  which,  under  better  counsels,  he 
would  never  have  been  appointed.  They  are  arranged 
somewhat  out  of  their  order  of  time,  to  present  the  subject 
in  its  proper  relations,  and  are  chiefly  extracts  from  letters 
and  documents  embracing  information  upon  other  subjects 
i.ere  omitted. 


hi:  * 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     215 


itructions, 
r  expense, 
-ginning, 
;ss  for  the 
he  might 
IS  lacking 
untrust- 
previous 
ill  a  pro- 
,  and  he 
id  impor- 
igaged  in 
detriment 
the  Indian 
r  Rogers, 
'ay  up  the 
ered  him- 
brmed  to 
owing  up 
ited. 

10,  1766. 
Oswego, 
an  Indian 
reached 


m  part, 

nagement 

nsels,  he 

arranged 

e  subject 

m  letters 

subjects 


Sir  fVilliam  Johnson  to  General  Thomas  Gage.* 

[Private.] 

*  *  *  "  Touching  your  last  favor  :  I  must  own  it 
Surprised  Me  a  good  deal,  to  find  the  papers  for  some  time 
past,  filled  with  Governor  Rogers  and  his  Great  Ap- 
pointments. 

'*  He  was  a  Soldier  in  my  army  in  1755,  and  as  we  were 
in  great  want  of  active  men   at  that  time,  his   readiness  re- 
commended him  so  far  to  me,  that  I  made  him  an  ofiicer, 
and  got  him   continued  in  the  Ranging  service,   where  he 
soon  became   puffed  up  with  pride  and  folly,  from  the  ex- 
travagant enconiums  and  notices  of  some  of  the  provinces. 
This  spoiled  a  good    Ranger,  for  he   was   fit  for  nothing 
else — neither  has  nature    calculated  him  for  a  large    Com- 
mand in    that  service.     He  has   neither  Understanding  or 
principles,   as  I  could   sufficiently   shew.     The   character 
you  have  given  him  is  exceedingly  just,  and  I  am  astonished 
that  the  government  should   have  thought  of  such  an  em- 
ployment for  him :  but  since  it  is  so,  1  am  of  opinion   he 
should  be   tied  up  in  such  a  manner  as   shall  best  prevent 
him  from   doing   mischief;  and  I  wish  I  could  well   point 
out  how  it  is    to  be  effected.     I  apprehend    it  will    chiefly 
depend  on   the  words  of  his  commission,  or   appointment-. 
If  he  is  appointed  Commandant  of  Michilimackinac,  and  a 
Deputy  Agent  of  Indian  Affairs  in  ihat  quarter,  under  the 
Superintendent,  and   bound   by   his  orders,  (except    where 
those  of  Commander-in-chief  for  the  time  being,  interfere), 
in    every    thing  relating    thereto,  and    obliged    to  transmit 
regular  reports  from  time  to   time,  of  all   transactions,  I 
think  he  will  not  have  it  in  his  power,  to  do  so  much  harm 
as    otherwise — but    to    prevent    him    from    doing   any,  is 
impossible,  for  he  has  been  concerned  in  trade,  during  the 

*  Johnson  MSS,  xil,  2Z.     Dated  January  23,  1766. 
20 


H 


2 1 6     journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 

time  he  was  in  the  service,  and  will  again,  with  those  of 
his  connections  in  that  Quarter,  where,  by  his  being  Com- 
mandant, he  will  have  it  in  his  power  to  confine  the  trade 
in  a  great  degree  to  himself  and  friends; — neither  can  I 
think  he  would  stick  at  saying  anything  to  the  Indians,  to 
effect  any  of  his  purposes. 

"  The  like  objection  will  be  against  him  if  appointed  for 
any  other  place  I  wish  the  Government  w  '  revise  the 
case,  and  put  him  on  full  pay,  or  give  him  .  ..e  little  ap- 
pointment as  a  Barrack  Master,  Fort  Major,  &c.,  of 
which  there  will  doubtless  be  some  establishment.  In  such 
offices,  it  would  be  out  of  his  power  to  do  harm,  either  in 
accounts  or  otherwise  ;  but  as  Commandant  and  Indian 
Agent,  it  will  be  extremely  difficult  to  check  him,  or 
detect  him.  If,  after  all,  nothing  else  can  be  thought  on, 
I  shall,  on  your  being  pleased  to  signify  to  me  the  power 
contained  in  his  commission,  lay  before  you  such  articles, 
as  may  in  some  measure  tye  up  his  hands — for  I  presume 
he  may  not  be  sent  out  for  his  post  this  winter.  In  the 
meantime,  as  I  observed  before;  the  only  thing  to  be  done 
at  present  is,  to  point  out  from  whom  he  i  *o  take  his 
orders  respecting  Indian  affairs,  the  channel  ugh  which 

his  reports  are  to  be  transmitted,  ard  to  lim..  ..»  expenses 
to  pipes,  tobacco,  and  a  little  liquor,  unless  when  he  may 
be  ordered  to  meet  any  body  of  Indians  ;  but  not  of  him- 
self, to  incur  any  other  expenses,  or  to  assemble  or  treat 
with  the  Indians  ;  and  whenever  they  shall  address  him  to 
send  a  faithful  copy  of  his  speeches,  and  to  take  care  of  all 
their  Belts,  Calumets,  etc." 

*   Instructions   to  Major  Robert   Rogers^  Commandant  of  the 
Post  of  Michilimackinac* 

"  His  Majesty's  pleasure  having  been  signified  to  me,  that 
you  should  be  appointed^to  the  command  of  Michilimackinac, 

*  Jobnion  MSS.,  Xii,  lO. 


i  t 


i!i< 


j:;,;    ;    ■■^] 


f. 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     217 


those  of 
ing  Com- 
ihe  trade 
ler  can  I 
ndians,  to 

ointed  for 
revise  the 
little  ap- 
,    &c.,  of 
In  such 
,  either  in 
[id    Indian 
k    him,  or 
lought  on, 
the  power 
h  articles, 
I  presume 
In  the 
:o  be  done 
take   his 
ugh  which 
»  expenses 
n  he  may 
ot  of  him- 
e  or  treat 
ss  him  to 
care  of  all 

'ant   of  the 

to  nie,  that 
imackinac, 


or  some  other  post  in  the  upper  country,  I  do  by  these 
presents,  appoint  vou  to  he  Captain  Commandant  of  the 
Garrison  of  Michiiimackinac,  and  you  are  hereby  authorized 
to  take  the  command  of  the  said  garrison,  and  the  officers 
and  soldiers  that  compose  the  same  are  required  to  obey 
you  as  their  commanding  officer.  You  are  therefo:e  to 
take  the  said  charge  uoon  you,  and  carefully  and  diligently 
to  discharge  the  duty  thereof,  by  doing  and  performing  all 
and  all  manner  of  things  thereunto  belonging.  And  you 
are  to  observe  and  follow  such  orders  and  directions  as  you 
shall  from  time  to  time  receive  from  his  Majesty,  myself, 
or  any  other  your  superior  officer,  according  to  the  rules 
and  discipline  of  war.  And  for  your  better  guidance  and 
direction,  in  the  great  trust  reposed  in  you,  you  are  here- 
with furnished  with  such  orders  as  have  been  given  out, 
during  my  command,  to  the  officers  commanding  posts,  to 
which  you  will  pay  due  attention  and  obedience  ;  I  can't 
recommend  too  strongly  to  you,  the  strictest  economy  in 
the  small  expenses  that  may  un;i  oidably  be  incurred  at 
this  post  now  put  under  your  command.  But  nothing  new 
or  chargeable,  must  upon  any  account,  be  undertaken  by 
you,  of  your  own  head. 

As  in  the  course  of  your  command,  you  must  necessarily 
have  some  intercourse  with  the  Savages.  I  have  thought 
proper  in  this  particular^  to  put  you  under  the  direction  of 
Sir  William  Johnson,  Bart.  His  Majesty's  sole  agent  and 
Superintendent  of  the  Northern  Indians,  and  he  will 
furnish  you  with  proper  instructions  for  your  guidance  in 
your  transactions  with  the  Indians,  who  reside  near,  and 
may  visit  the  said  post  of  Michilimacknac,  to  which,  and 
all  such  future  orders  as  he  may  judge  necessary  to  send 
you,  upon  this  subject^  you  are  to  pay  the  strictest  attention 
and  obedience. 

You  will  as  frequently  as  possible  report  to  the  officer 
commanding  at  Detroit,  under  whose  immediate  command 


.:'■< 


2 1 8      'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

you  are, — (Michilimackinac  being  a  post  dependant  thereon,) 
the  state  of  the  troops  under  your  command,  sending  the 
proper  returns  and  acquainting  him  of  every  occurrence  re- 
lative to  the  better  conducting  His  Majesty's  affairs  in  that 
country,  that  you  shall  think  it  necessary  he  should  be  in- 
formed of.  You  will  likewise  correspond  with  Sir  William 
Johnson,  giving  him  notice  of  every  thing  you  shall  think 
worthy  his  knowledge,  relative  to  the  conduct  and  temper 
of  the  Indians. 

"Given,  etc.,  New  York,  loth  January,  1766." 


*'  Sir  fVilliam  Johnson  to  Major  Moncrieffe  Gage.^ 

"Johnson  Hall,  Jan.  30,  1766. 

"  Dear  Sir,  Major  Rogers  delivered  me  your  favor  of 
♦he  20th  inst.,  by  which  I  am  surprised  to  find  that  my 
letter  of  July  was  three  months  on  the  road.  Indeed,  the 
irregularity  of  the  Posts,  and  miscarriages  of  letters  are 
become  very  frequent  of  late,  and  a  subject  of  general  com- 
plaint from  most  of  my  correspondents. 

"  I  have  known  Major  Rogers  ever  since  r  755,  and  should 
be  glad  the  Government  had  made  a  better  or  more  adapted 
appointment  for  him.  As  Michilimackinack  is  pointed  out, 
he  must  go  there,  where  I  hope  he  will  act  a  proper  part, 
prove  of  service  to  the  public  and  extricate  himself  out  of 
his  difficulties,  and  deserve  a  better  character  than  the 
public  has  for  some  time  bestowed  upon  him,  the  partic- 
ulars  and    causes    of   which    you  are  so  well  acquainted 


*  Johmon  MSS.,  xii,  2/. 


ii 

i    t 


^nmm 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     219 


hereon,) 
ding  the 
ence  re- 
s  in  that 
Id  be  in- 
William 
all  think 
1  temper 

766." 


tge- 
1766. 

favor  of 
that  my 
leed,  the 
:ters  are 
ral  com- 

d  should 
;  adapted 
ited  out, 
)cr  part, 
f  out  of 
han  the 
e  partic- 
quainted 


with,  that  I  need  say  no  more  than  to  assure  you  that  \  our 
recommendation  will  always  have  due  weight  with  me.* 

'*I  heartily  thank  you  for  your  honest  remarks  and  candid 
sentiments  on  our  American  disputes.  They  have  been 
always  mine,  and  I  trust  we  shall  never  differ  in  opinion 
thereon.  The  unconstitutional  steps  pursued  to  obtain  a 
constitutional  redress,  can  hardly  be  parallelled,  and  I  fear 
they  have  kindled  a  fire  which  all  their  engines  may  not 
extinguish,  not  withstanding  all  the  paper  puffs,  and  the 
distresses  which  they  threaten  Great  Britain. f  If  I  could 
find  one  instance  of  patriotic  disinterestedness  and  modera- 
tion— of  respect  for  the  Crown  and  its  officers  and  un- 
prejudiced sentiments  of  liberty  I  should  esteem  them  ;  but 
when  long  experience  induces  me  to  think  that  opposition 
and  bravado  are  their  darling  passions,  I  cannot  but  condemn 
their  doctrine,  and  I  shudder  at  the  licentiousness  it  might 
introduce.!     ^    country    without    fleet,   army,    or    even 


*  In  the  original  draft,  in  place  of  the  preceding  sentence  the  following  had 
been  written  and  then  erased  :  ''  I  am  sorry  to  say,  he  does  not  appear  much 
esteemed,  for  it  gives  me  a  sensible  pain  to  find  a  useful  active  man,  struggling 
under  the  disadvantages  of  distress,  and  i  bad  name,  and  he  would  have  done 
much  better,  if  not  exalted  too  much  by  the  people  here,  who  appear  now 
foremost  in  debasing  him." 

t  In  the  original  draft,  the  followinij  had  been  here  written  and  erased  : 
"  I  am  nut  friend  to  any  act  which  may  bring  diHiculty  or  distress  on  a  free 
people;  but  I  love  the  British  Constitution,  and  would  not  add  t:ioo  a  year  to 
my  estate,  to  produce  the  smallest  diminution  of  the  Bricish   Rights,  I   love  a 
monarchy,  such  as  England  is,  but  not  such  as  they  would  make  it. 

I  This  passage  as  first  written,  in  the  original  draft,  and  then  partly  erased, 
was  as  follows  : 

"  But  when  I  know  by  long  experience,  by  good  information,  and  even 
from  their  own  Mstory,  that  it  ii  not  liberty  but  faction  they  court,  and  that 
their  sentiments  and  conduct  so  strongly  resembles  that  of  those  who  once 
overcast  the  British  Constitution,  I  shudder  at  the  licentiousness  they  would 
introduce;  and  if  they  were  absolved  from  all  British  tyes,  cannot  but  consider 
them  as  a  prey  for  the  Tint  mvitime  power,  or  rather  as  fallen  to  the  share  of 
all  the  .marUime  powers  in  Eurape." 


h  ' 


2  20     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

numbers  equal  to  the  smallest  Kingdom,  and  they  too, 
scattered  over  an  extensive  tract  of  country,  with  few  sea 
ports,  and  those  few,  with  all  their  commerce,  liable  to  be 
totally  obstructed  by  the  smallest  squadron,  must  certainly 
fall  a  sacrifice  if  left  to  themselves,  to  one,  or  other,  or  all 
the  maritime  powers,  which  makes  me  astonished  at  the 
extravagant  speeches  I  daily  hear  (no  doubt  brought  from 
good  authority)  of  their  strength  and  resolutions.  In  a 
country  where  we  are  denied  the  liberty  of  altering  our 
thoughts,  it  is  scarcely  Safe  to  say  much,  and  I  can  say 
little  further  than  to  express  my  wish  that  moderation 
may  become  more  in  esteem,  and  thai  nc  public  may  at 
length  be  convinced  by  serious  reflection,  that  their  violent 
conduct  is  in  no  wise  calculated  for  procuring  them  redress, 
or  esteem  from  the  mother  country.  I  sincerly  thank  you 
for  all  your  good  wishes,  and  if  you  approve  of  my  senti- 
ments, shall  expect  a  continuance  of  your  friendly  corres- 
pondence. 

'*  Be  assured  of  my  unalterable  esteem,  of  my  best  wishes 
for  your  prosperity,  and  that  I  am  Dear  Moncrieffe,  your 
Sincere  Friend, 

"  William  Johnson." 

Letter  from   Major  Robert   Rogers  to  Sir   IVilliam  Johnson* 

New  York,  February  14,  1776. 

**  Sir  :  1  have  received  orders  from  General  Gage  for 
taking  command  of  the  troops  and  garrison  at  Michilimakina, 
a  copy  of  which  orders  Mr.  Croghan  will  forward  to  you 
with  this  letter.  I  hope  for  your  approbation,  and  that  I 
shall  have  your  assistance  for  anv  thing  that  may  offer,  that 
is  in  your  Department,  as  I  shall  ever  be  happy  to  receive, 

so  I    shall  take    pleasure  in  obeying    your    commands.     I 

■  ♦ 

*  Johnson  MSS.,  xii,  40. 


I  ' 


^m^ms^f^. 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      221 

shall  send  up  my  Journals*  for  your  perusal,  by  the  Post. 
The  Packet  is  hourly  expected,  should  she  bring  any  in- 
telligence worthy  your  notice,  I  shall  do  myself  the  honour 
to  communicate  it  to  you.  The  London  Papers  inform 
that  your  son  had  the  honour  of  a  knighthood  conferred 
upon  him  at  his  arrival  in  London. 

"  I  am  with  great  Respect,  Sir,  your  most  Obedient  and 
most  Humble  Servant, 

Robert  Rogers." 


Benjamin  Roberts  to  Sir  IVilliam  Johnson.^ 

Ontario.  [Oswego]  July  3,  1766. 

*'  The  traders  applied  to  me  here  to  procure  liberty  to 
remain  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  where  they  were 
stationed  by  Capt.  Fuller.  I  spoke  to  Captain  Rogers  to 
let  them  remain,  but  he  said  he  had  orders  from  General 
Gage  to  have  them  at  this  side  the  river,  I  offered  to 
shew  him  my  order  from  general  where  all  orders  con- 
cerning Indian  affairs  were  to  be  obeyed,  and  that  your 
direction  to  the  Smith  was  to  settle  at  that  side,  and  I  im- 
agined you  intended  the  trade  should  be  there,  but  t'was 
all  to  no  purpose. 

"  I  have  taken  the  liberty  to  mention  this  to  you,  as  I 
find  he  thinks  that  he  is  not  to  obey  any  orders  that  don't 
come  directly  from  the  general,  least  I  may  meet  with  any 
difficulty  by  others  being  of  the  same  npinion.  I  have  known 
as  such  difficulties,  to  arise  in  other  departments,  till  a 
general  order  cleared  all  doubts." 


*  Probably   referring  to   the   volume  printed  in    London  in  1765,  which  we 
here  republish. 

f  JoAntoi  MSS.,  XII,  23*. 


I 


"M 


222     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

Sir  IVilliam  Johnson  to  General  Gage.* 

Johnson  Hall,  September  ii,  1767. 
"  Tho'  I  wrote  to  you  a  few  days  ago  by  Mr.  Croghan, 
yet  I  could  not  avoid  saying  something  again  on  the  score 
of  the  vast  expenses  incurred,  and  as  I  understand  still  in- 
curring at  Michilimackinac,  chiefly  on  the  pretense  of 
making  a  peace  between  the  Sioux  and  Chipeweighs,  with 
which  I  think  we  have  very  little  to  do,  in  good  policy  or 
otherwise.  By  letters  I  have  this  day  received  from  Capt. 
Claas,  I  find  that  further  drafts  on  me  have  been  shown  to 
him  at  Montreal,  to  the  amount  of  £1100,  and  I  hear  the 
whole  exceeds  £5000.  In  short,  from  the  several  accounts 
I  have  received,  I  am  induced  to  think  there  must  be  some 
particular  motive  for  this  Expense,  and  indeed  the  method 
practiced  in  conducting  affairs  there,  tends  to  strengthen 
that  opinion.  The  Traders  have  been  vastly  indulged  to 
procure  their  esteem,  but  are  nevertheless  very  importu- 
nate for  their  money,  and  J  am  at  a  loss  what  to  say  to 
them  upon  it,  for  expenses  seem  to  have  been  made,  and 
Indians  called,  purely  to  show  authority  and  gain  repu- 
tation. The  business  was  given  into  the  hands  of  the  Com- 
missary with  a  bad  grace,  and  much  has  been  done  to  draw 
the  latter  into  large  expenses,  which  however  he  is  suffi- 
ciently armed  against  by  his  instructions  as  was  also  the 
Major.  Upon  the  whole,  I  have  reason  to  apprehend 
something  more  than  common  is  in  view,  (which  may  not 
be  a  matter  of  Surprise  to  you),  and  I  should  have  given 
the  Secretary  of  State  a  hint  of  it,  so  that  at  least  he  might 
be  sent  some  where  else,  but  that  1  would  not  do  it  with- 
out your  knowledge  and  approbation." 


*  Johmon  MSS.,xv,  63;  Doc.  Hist.,  N.  Y.,  11,  863.  Sec  letter  of  Sir 
William  Johnson  to  the  Earl  of  Shelburn,  dated  Oct.  z6,  1767,  on  a  subse- 
quent page.  Also  the  letter  of*  General  Gage  to  Johnson,  dated  Oct.  21, 
1767. 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     223 


1767. 

>oghan, 
he  score 
still  in- 
tense  of 
rhs,  with 
policy  or 
>m  Capt. 
shown  to 
hear   the 
accounts 
;  be  some 
e  method 
trersgthen 
idulged  to 
importu- 
to  say  to 
lade,   and 
in  repu- 
le  Com- 
to  draw 
is  suffi- 
also  the 
jprehend 
may  not 
ve  given 
le  might 
5  it  with- 


letter  of  Sir 
on  a  subse- 
d  Oct.     z%, 


t( 


General  Gage  to  Sir  William  Johnson.* 

New  York,  September  21,  1767. 

With  respect  to  the  Commander  at  Missilimakinak,  I 
could  devise  no  better  means  to  stop  his  proceedings,  and 
put  an  immediate  end  to  all  the  mischiefs  he  may  create, 
than  to  remove  him  immediately  from  his  command.  I 
have  therefore  done  this,  and  ordered  him  to  meet  Mr. 
Crogan  at  Detroit  ;  at  which  place  my  letter  to  Supercede 
him  in  the  command  of  Missilimakinak  will  be  delivered  to 
him.f  The  bills  which  he  has  thought  proper  to  draw  to 
so  great  an  amount,  pretended  to  have  been  incurred  on  a 
trifling  affair,  undertaken  solely  by  his  own  authority,  the 
expence  of  it  by  the  same  powers  only,  contrary  to  the 
orders  and  instructions  given  him  by  you  as  well  as  by  me, 
must  be  protested  ;  and  I  acquaint  him  that  they  are  pro- 
tested, and  will  not  be  paid.  I  have  send  orders  that  he 
shall  return  no  more  to  Missilimakinak,  or  be  permitted  to 
hold  any  conferences  publick  or  private,  with  any  of  the 
Indian  Nations,  and  to  watch  his  motions  very  narrowly. 
Of  all  this  you  will  take  no  notice  for  some  time  to  come, 


*  Johnson  MSS.,  xv,  63.  Doc.  Hist.,  N.  Y.,  11,  863.  Sec  letter  from  Sir 
William  Johnson  to  the  Earl  of  Shelburne,  dated  Oct.  26,  1767,  on  a  tub- 
sequent  page,  also  letter  of  Gen.  Gage  to  Johnson,  dated  Oct.  22,  1767. 

t  Mr.  George  Croghan  in  writing  to  Sir  William  [ohnson  from  New  York, 
Sept.  14,  1767,  says:  The  General  [Gage]  is  much  displeased  with  \fajor 
Rogers,  but  I  have  not  had  time  yet  to  tallc  with  him  on  that  subject.  But 
from  what  he  has  said,  I  iind  he  wishes  he  had  never  been  sent  there. — 
[Johnson  MSS.,  xv,  66.] 

In  writing  from  Philadelphia,  Sept.  25,  1767,  he  again  says  :  "  The  General 
spoke  to  me  about  Rogers,  and  asked  my  opinion  about  him  which  I  gave, 
and  the  General  has  sent  by  me  orders  to  get  him  down  to  Detroit,  and  from 
thence  down  here,  which  the  General  has  no  doubt  wrote  your  honor  fully 
about  the  plan  fixed  for  getting  him  down  the  country  and  which  I  will  en- 
deavor to  execute  with  as  much  prudence  as  in  my  power." — [Joknton  MSS. 
XV,  89].  See  also  MSS.,  xv,  158,  160,  196;  xvi,  55,  65,  144,  177;  xix, 
143. 


jnrrT] 


224     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

I  have  wrote  very  fully  to  Lieut.  Roberts  to  send  the 
fullest  information  upon  every  part  of  his  conduct,  and 
given  orders  to  the  officers  to  assist  him  in  his  inquiries." 

Sir  IVilliam  Johnson  to  General  Gage.* 
(Private), 

Johnson   Hall,  October  22,  1767. 

"  Dear  Sir  :  On  my  return  I  found  a  pacquet  Just  arrived 
from  Montreal,  inclosing  me  the  depositions  of  Mr.  Potter, 
taken  before  the  Chief  Justice  of  Quebec,  relative  to 
Major  Roger's  Schemes  and  conduct,  a  copy  of  which,  I 
am  informed,  has  been  sent  to  you,  and  also  that  Potter  is 
gone  to  England  on  that  occasion. 

The  Deposition  is  long,  and  with  the  other  papers  trans- 
mitted (one  of  which  is  a  Letter  to  my  Deputy,  Lieut. 
Johnson)  fully  shew  his  views  and  confirm  the  strong 
suspicions  we  had  before  entertained  concerning  him. 
It  appears  to  me  necessary  that  the  Government  should  be 
fully  informed  of  these  particulars,  and  you  will  doubtless 
agree  with  me,  concerning  the  necessity  there  appears  for 
preventmg  him  from  putting  his  resolutions  into  practice, 
or  eluding  the  plan  you  proposed  for  bringing  him  from 
thence.  He  is  a  weak  vain  man  ;  and  however  romantick 
his  scheme  may  appear,  I  believe  him  capable  of  under- 
taking it,  or  in  short  any  thing  else  and  in  the  present  state 
of  affairs,  should  he  escape,  he  might,  I  am  certain,  give  us 
some  trouble. 

The  Traders  there  tho'  ignorant  of  his  particular  project, 
begin  to  be  greatly  aiaimed  on  account  of  their  persons  and 
propertys,  from  some  discoveries  they  have  made,  and  my 


*  Jo  Anton  MSS.,  xv,  105  j  Doc.  Hist,,  N.  Y.,  11,  883. 


<     , 


1 
,  1 


!  m 


journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     225 


send  the 
luct,  and 
[uiries." 


,  1767- 

1st  arrived 
Ir.  Potter, 
elative  to 
•  which,  I 
t  Potter  is 


opinion  is,  that  as  he  now  knows  he  is  discovered,  he  will 
be  driven  thro'  dispair,  and  that  he  will  leave  the  Garrison 
immediately,  having  concerted  a  plan  with  those  seduced 
to  follow  his  fortunes,  and  I  am  given  to  understand,  with 
the  assistance  of  some  Indians,  to  plunder  the  Traders  and 
go  down  the  iMississippi,  or  put  some  of  the  rest  of  his 
plan  in  execution. 

Potter  with  great  difficulty  escaped  from  his  clutches 
and  got  to  Montreal,  hut  on  the  presumption  that  you  will 
have  received  all  informations  hereon,  I  will  add  no  more, 
but  beg  to  be  favored  with  your  answer  as  soon  as  con 
venient  :,  and  as  my  present  hurry  will  not  allow  me  to 
send  copies,  should  they  not  be  come  to  your  hands,  I  shall 
send  them  in  my  next." 


pers  trans- 
ity,  Lieut, 
he   strong 
ning    him. 
should  be 
doubtless 
ppears  for 
practice, 
him   from 
romantick 
of  under- 
esent  state 
in,  give  us 

"lar  project, 
lersons  and 
le,  and  my 


Sir  IVilliam  Johnson  to  the  Earl  of  Shelburne.  * 

Johnson  Hall,  Oct.  26,  1767. 

"  My  Lord  :  I  think  it  an  essential  part  of  my  duty  to 
lay  before  your  Lordship  the  particulars  of  a  very  ex- 
traordinary discovery  made  of  the  intentions  of  Major 
Robert  Rogers,  Commander  of  Mishilimacinac,  to  cor- 
roborate which,  I  transmit  to  your  Lordship  the  enclosed 
letter  and  deposition. 

This  gentleman  has  been  known  to  me  since  1755, 
when  finding  him  an  active  man,  I  raised  hint  to  the  rank 
of  a  Provincial  officer,  and  employed  him  on  scouting 
service,  there  being  very  few  people  to  be  had  fit  for  the 
purpose.  He  has  since  been  advanced  by  several  of  the 
Commanders-in-chief,  for  his  alertness  in  that  way,  but 
having  mis  spent  his  money,  and  being  reduced  in  1763,  he 
was,    since    recommended   by  his   Majesty's    ministers    to 


J 


*  Johnson  MSS.,  xv,  N.  Y.  Colonial  Hist.,  vii,  988. 


r\\ 


\i ' 


226     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers 

General  Gage,  to  be  appointed  to  his  present  command, 
and  to  act  under  my  direction  in  Indian  Affairs  at  that 
post. 

From  very  strong  suspicions  which  tiow  appear  well 
grounded,  I  took  care  by  the  advice  of  General  Gage,  to 
give  him  very  little  powers  with  regard  to  Ind'n  manage- 
ment or  expenses  there,*  the  General  and  myself  well 
knowing  the  man,  the  heavy  debts  he  had  incurred,  and 
reasonably  concluding  he  ought  not  to  be  entrusted  with 
much  authority.  Some  particulars  which  I  had  early  dis- 
covered, contributed  to  the  discovering  a  villainous  cor- 
respondence. One  letter  (of  which  the  enclosed  is  a  copy) 
of  this,  would  have  been  earlier  laid  before  your  Lordship, 
but  that  notwithstanding  the  motives  we  had  to  suspect 
him,  it  was  nevertheless  judged  best  to  wait  for  stronger 
proofs,  least  he  might  have  denied  his  assent  to  ye  proposals, 
which  we  could  not  then  sufficiently  disprove — by  which 
means  he  must  have  been  acquitted  i  and  left  perhaps  to 
do  much  mischief,  as  he  would  be  furnished  with  sufficient 
caution  to  prevent  the  future  discovery  of  his  designs. 

Soon  after  his  arrival  at  his  post,  I  was  informed  of  his 
assembling  numbers  of  Indians,t  of  secret  conferences 
which  he  held,  at  which  he  suffered  none  to  be  present  of 
the  garrison,— of  extraordinary  titles  he  gave  himself;  ect. 
To  prevent  which,  with  the  advice  of  the  Commander  in 
Chief,!  I  appointed  and  sent  a   commissary   there§  for  the 

*  Johnson  in  writing  to  Gen.  Gage,  May  20,  1767,  says  :  "  I  have  received 
and  forwarded  the  order,  respecting  the  Cloaths  remaining  at  the  posts,  and 
shall  write  to  Major  Rogers  to  incur  no  more  Expenses  as  you  desire." — 
Jobnson  MSS.,  xiv,  189  ;    Doc.  Hist.,  N.  T.,  11,  855. 

f  See  Instructions  for  Mr.  Deriver,  sent  by  Rogers  to  negotiate  with  the 
Indians,  dated  Sept.  2,  1766. —  'Johnson's  MSS.,  xui,  74. 

J  Letter  dated  January  25,  1767,  in  which  Gen.  Gage  lays  :  "  Michili- 
mackinak  seems  to  be  the  most  material  post  we  have,  and  certainly  more 
necessary  for  a  commissary  thw  any  other." — Doc,  Hist.,  N,  T.,  11,  837. 

\  Lieut.  Benjamin  Roberts. 


command, 
lirs  at  that 

ppear  well 
i\  Gage,  to 
'n  manage- 
lyself  well 
curred,  and 
rusted  with 
1  early  dis- 
ainous  cor- 
d  is  a  copy) 
r  Lordship, 

to  suspect 
or  stronger 
e  proposals, 
—by  which 

perhaps  to 

h  sufficient 

signs. 

med  of  his 
conferences 
present  of 
nself;  ect. 
nmander  in 

re§  for  the 

have  received 
the  posts,  and 
^ou    desire."— 

otiate  with  the 

IS  :  '*  Michili- 
certainly  more 
,,  II,  837. 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     227 

management  of  Indian  Affairs,  previous  to  whose  arrival, 
Rogers  had  incurred  a  considerable  expense,  to  the  amount 
of  several  thousands,*  and  since  gave  drafts  for  the  same 
on  the  Department  for  Indian  Affairs,  thefjretence  alledged 
on  account  of  part  of  this  expense  was  to  purchase  a  peace 
with  the  Chippawaes,  of  Lake  Superior,  and  part  of  the 
Siouxf,  as  mentioned  in  my  last, — a  peace  calculated  to 
serve  the  purpose  of  a  few  Traders,  who  could  not  range 
the  country  at  will,  if  a  variance  subsisted  between  these 
Tribes,  although  such  variance  in  no  wise  affected  any 
other  of  the  Traders,  or  other  his  Majesty's  Subjects,  but 
should  have  been  as  good  policy  connived  at,  as  it  diverted 
some  of  the  most  dangerous  Indians  from  concerting  any 
thing  to  ye  general  prejudice. 


*  Sir  William  Johnson  in  writing  to  General  Gage,  Sept.  6,  1767,  says  : 
"I  left  the  Springs  sooner  than  I  should  have  done  on  account  of  some  letters, 
etc.,  transmitted  to  me  by  Lt.  Johnson,  which  were  received  from  the  frontiers, 
and  from  some  accounts  received  from  the  Indians  which  I  don't  much  like. 
On  my  arrival  at  Albany,  I  was  surrounded  by  people  with  drafts  drawn  on 
me  by  Major  Rogers  to  a  very  considerable  amount  Those  I  have  already 
seen,  come  to  between  £2,000  and  £3,000.  I  must  defer  saying  any  thing 
further  on  this  subject  for  the  present,  but  referring  you  to  Mr.  Croghan  for 
other  particulars,  conclude,  with  assuring,  etc." — jfobrtscn  MSS.,  xv,  58  ;  Doc. 
Hist.,  N.  Y.,  11,863. 

Several  of  these  bills  are  preserved  among  the  Johnson  MSS.,  viz.: 

From  Aug.  8,  to  Sept.  20,  1766,  £290     55.    3^/.   (MSS.,  xiii,     89.) 

From  Sept.  21,  1766  to  Feb.   i,  1767,  429    131.   6J.  (MSS.,   xiv,    42.) 

From  Feb.  i,  to  May  23,  1767,  212    191.   6d.  (MSS.,  xiv,  193.) 

See  also  an  answer  to  a  Trader's  petition  concerning  goods  advanced  to 
Major  Rogers,  dated  Jan.  7,  1767  (MSS.,  xiv,  7). 

Letter  from  Major  Rogers  to  Sir  William  Jphnson,  dated  Aug.  14,  1767, 
relating  to  the  payment  of  accounts  (MSS.,  xv,  31). 

Letter  from  Joseph  Howard,  of  Montreal,  Oct.  25,  1767,  to  Sir  William 
Johnson,  strongly  urging  his  claims  for  pay  for  goods  delivered  to  Major 
Rogers  (MSS.,  xv,  114). 

f  See  letter  to  General  Gage,  dated  Sept.  11,  1767. 


N 


'^;i 


1 1 


228     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

The  bulk  of  the  expence  however  which  he  incured, 
was  evidently  calculated  to  acquire  a  name  and  influence 
amongst  the  Indians,*  for  his  preconcerted  purposes,  and 
of  this,  the  Traders  themselves  latterly  were  suspicious, 
for  although  his  toleration  to  them  to  do  what  they 
pleased,  at  first  proved  highly  agreeable  and  induced  them 
to  accept  his  drafts  for  the  payment  of  large  sums,  yet  as 
he  has  since  drawn  so  much,  has  employed  so  many 
persons  under  extravagant  promises,  and  given  them  rank 
and  powers  to  go  with  large  Cargoes  of  goods  amongst  all 
the  nations.  The  Traders  begin  to  take  the  alarm,  and 
from  a  knowledge  of  his  vanity,  and  extravagant  schemes^, 
(tho'  ignorant  of  the  material  part),  are  now  in  the  utmost 
consternation  about  the  safety  of  their  persons  and  prop- 
eriys. 

As  he  is  a  very  illiterate  man,  he  found  it  necessary  to 
engage  some  person  to  do  business  for  him,  and  accordingly 
the  deponent.  Potter,  has,  on  the  promise  of  a  handsome 
allowance,  followed  his  fortune  for  some  time  past,  How  he 
came  to  make  the  discovery  of  Roger's  designs  will  ap- 
pear from  the  deposition  which  corroborates  the  particulars 
which  came  to  the  General's,  and  my  knowledge.  He 
has  since  insulted  the  Commissary,  and  interfered  with 
him  in  his   duty,  f   *nd  ^^^    General   has    taken  Measures 


*   Letter  from  Daniel  Ciaus  to  Sir  fVilllam  'Johnson. 

Montreal,  i6th  October,  1766. 

"  By  the  last  account  from  Miehilimackina,  Major  Rogers  was  arrived  there. 
and  immediately  without  hesitation,  gave  a  general  permit  to  all  Traders  to  g  1 
wintering,  for  which  he  is  vastly  liked  and  applauded  here.  The  Traders  that 
came  from  there  told  me  also  that  his  behaviour  towards  the  Indains  was  likel 
and  approved  of  by  them,  as  well  as  the  people  of  the  place." — jfohmon  /l/.V.V. 
XIII.  134. 

I  See  Letter  of  Sir  William  Johnson  to  General  Gage,  dated  Oct.  30, 
1767,  on  a  subsequent  page. 


s. 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     229 


le  incured, 
1  influence 
poses,  and 
suspicious, 
ivhat  thcv 
uced  them 
ims,  yet  as 

so  many 
them  rank 
innongst  all 
alarm,  and 
t  schemes, 
the  utmost 

and  prop- 


ecessary  to 
iccordingly 

handsome 
St,  How  he 
ns  will  ap- 
particulars 
edge.  He 
fered    with 

Measures 


tober,  1766. 

s  arrived  thf re. 
Traders  to  gn 
e  Traders  tlut 
ains  was  likei 

Johnson    JilSS. 

ated    Oct.  30, 


for  withdrawing  him  from  thence.  *  It  only  remains  for 
me  to  add  thereon,  that  as  his  case  is  now  become  desperate 
by  Potter's  having  abandoned  his  interest,  I  apprehend  he 
will  not  wait  the  General's  dispatches,  but  leave  the  place, 
and  take  some  Measures  agreable  to  his  own  character, 
which  from  the  present  alarming  situation  of  Indian  Affairs, 
may  be  attended  with  ill  consequences  to  the  public. 

The  dangerous  precedent  which  he  has  set  to  the 
Indians  there,  on  the  article  of  expense  will  be  productive 
of  much  trouble  to  those  who  succeed  him  in  the  Manage- 
ment of  Indian  Affairs  there,  and  indeed  I  cannot  avoid 
observing,  that  the  Indian  accounts  are  greatly  inflamed, 
through  the  present  iri-^gular  state  of  their  affairs,  and  that 
if,  as  it  was  once  intended,  the  Superintendant  has  orders  to 
procure  a  certain  quantity  of  articles,  for  presents,  etc.,  at 
the  Cheapest  rates  in  England,  the  Indians  would  be  better 
served,  and  contented,  than  at  present,  when  goods  are 
obliged  to  be  brought  up  in  haste,  bad  in  quality,  and  at 
the  most  advanced  prices,  to  answer  sudden  emergencies  — 
and  I  am  myself  obliged,  not  only  to  advance  my  own  cash, 
but  very  frequently  to  borrow  money  to  answer  the  de- 
mands and  drafts  of  the  several  distant  oflicers,  all  which 
arises  from  the  want  of  a  regular  established  fund  for  the 
expences  of  the  Department. 

This  and  all  other  heads,  are  humbly  Submitted  to  your 
Lordship's  consideration,  with  a  confidence  that  they  will 
Merit  such  attention,  and  produce  such  powers,  as  may  be 
thought  best,  as  a  remedy  against  such  evils,  till  when, 
all  I  can  do  is,  to  propose  a  General  Congress  of  all  the 
Nations,  and  in   Case  my   endeavors   to  prevent  hostilities 


if 


*  Sec  Letter  of  Gen.  Gage  to  Sir  William    Johnson,  dated    Sept.  21,  1767, 
and  of  Johnson  to  Gage,  dated  Oct.  zz,  1767. 


I 


'^:i 


il 


230     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 

should  prove  ineffectual,  I  persuade  myself  I  can  keep 
some  tribes  quiet,  and  even  spirit  up  several  partys  to  act 
offensively  against  the  rest,  if  empowered  to  do  so." 

^^ Deposition  Made  by  Nathaniel  Potter^  late  of  Michilimackina, 
taken  before  the  Hon.  PVilliam  Hay^  His  Majesty* s  Chief 
Justice  of  the  .Province  of  ^ebec,  the  iSth  day  of  Sept- 
ember^  ijtj.   * 

**Mr.  Nathaniel  Potter,  late  uf  Michilimackina,  maketh 
oath,  upon  the  Holy  Evangelist  and  Saith,  that  about  the 
Month  of  January  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1765,  he 
became  acquainted  with  Major  Robert  Rogers,  who  is  now 
Commander  of  the  Fort  of  Michilimackina,  and  that  from 
that  time  till  this  last  Summer,  he  has  continued  to  be 
much  connected  with  him,  and  employed  by  him  in  various 
ways,  That  he  has  several  times  observed,  that  the  said 
Major  Rogers  was  much  dissatisfied  with  his  Situation, 
and  expressed  a  distant  design  of  taking  some  c  xtraordinary 
Method  to  better  it.  That  the  said  Major  Rogers,  sent 
the  said  Potter  last  spring  to  Lake  Superior,  from  whence 
he  returned  about  the  latter  end  of  last  June,  And  in  July 
last,  the  said  Major  Rogers  had  a  private  conversation 
with  the  said  Mr.  Potter  at  the  Fort  at  Michilimackina,  in 
which  he  explained  his  designs  to  the  said  Potter  in  a  fuller 
manner  than  he  had  ever  done  before.  He  said  he  was 
much  in  debt  to  several  Traders  whom  he  was  unable  to 
pay  and  that  this  gave  him  great  uneasiness,  That  he  was 
therefore  resolved  to  apply  to  the  government  of  England 
to  do  something  to  better  his  situation,  and  he  wished  that 
they  would  erect  the  country  about  the  Michilimackina, 
into  a  Separate  Province,  and  make  him  governor  of  it, 
with   a    command    of   three    Companies   of  Rangers,  in- 

•  Joknun  MSB.  xt.     N.  Y.  Colonial  Hist,  v      «><v^ 


s. 


can  keep 
rtys  to  act 
o." 


ilimackina, 
tsty*s  Chief 
ay  of  Sept- 

la,  maketh 
about  the 
1765,  he 
vho  is  now 
i  that  from 
nued   to  be 
1  in  various 
at  the  said 
Situation, 
traordinary 
ogers,  sent 
am  whence 
^nd  in  July  | 
)nversation  ' 
nackina,  in 
in  a  fuller 
»aid  he  was 
unable  tu 
hat  he  was 
jf  England 
wished  that 
lilimackina, 
!rnor  of  it, 
.angers,  in- 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      231 

dependent  of  Sir  William  Johnson,  or  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  the   forces  in   America — that   this   would  Satisfy 
him,  and  make    him   easy,  and    nothing    else    would  ;    aiul 
he  purposed  to  Mr.  Potter  to  go  to  England  to  make  these 
proposals  to  the  English   Government  in  his  behalf,  and  to 
let  him  know  in  the  speediest    manner  possible,  the  success 
of  his  negotiations  :    for  if  he  did   not  meet    with  success, 
he  would    immediately   upon    his    receiving    notice   of   his 
disappointment,  quit   his    post,  and    retire   to    the    French 
towards  the  Mississippi,  and  enter   into  the    service  of  the 
French  unless  he  was  sure  to    meet  with  better  encourage- 
ment.    That  he    had    lately   a   letter    from   one   Hopkins, 
who  is  now  in  the   French    Service  in    one  of   their  West 
India  Islands.     That   in    that    letter   Hopkuis   had  offered 
him  great  encourage.nent  if  he  would  embrace  the  French 
interest,  and  stir  up   the  Indians  against  the  English,  That 
he  was  sure   he  would    get   greater   riches,  and   be  a  great 
man,  if  he  was  to  go  over  to  the  French,  and  therefore  he 
was  resolved  to  do  so,  if  the  English   Government  did  not 
comply  with  his  proposals.     And  that  he  advised  Potter  to 
do  the  same,  as  it  would   be  much   for  his  interest.     That 
upon  Potter's   expressing  some  surprise   and    indignation  at 
this  proposal,  as  being  contrary  to  his  duty  and  C(jnscience, 
Rogers  told  him  he  was  a  fool  :  that  he  had  hitherto  taken 
him  for  a   man  of  sense,  and    his  friend   that    would  serve 
him  in  any  scheme  to  serve  him,  but  that  now  he  found  he 
was  mistaken.     But  he  said  that  for  himself,  he  was  resolved 
to  do  so,  if  his  proposals   were  not  complyed    with  : — and 
he  added,  that  if  he  did  take  that  step  and  retire  among  the 
Indians  and  French,  he   would    not  go   empty  handed,  but 
would  in    that  case    get   into    his   hands    all    the    goods  he 
could,  both  from  Traders  and  others  —  by  right  or  wrong 
he  cared  not  how,  And  he  said   he  had  already  made  prep- 
arations for  such  a  step,  by  appointing  people  to  meet  him 

21 


'i! 


232     journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers 


at  a  place  called   Lowis   Constant,  [Wisconsin  ?],  near  a 
river  that  falls  into  the  Mississippi. 

When  Potter  refused  to  engage  with  Rogers  in  his 
design,  the  latter  flew  into  a  violent  passion,  and  swore 
that  he  would  never  pay  him  a  farthing  of  what  he  owed 
him,  and  said  that  he  supposed,  since  he  would  not  join 
him  in  his  designs,  he  would  go  and  reveal  it,  but  that  if 
he  did  he  would  certainly  kill  him.  Potter  answered  him, 
that  he  had  always  served  him  faithfully,  and  wished  to  do 
so  still,  and  had  no  inclination  to  reveal  any  thing  that 
might  turn  to  his  prejudice,  but  as  he  seemed  to  be  so 
firmly  resolved  to  take  such  a  danger'^us  step,  that  might 
be  the  cause  of  a  new  Indian  War,  01  other  dreadfull  mis- 
fortune to  the  interest  of  Great  Britain,  he  apprehended 
himself  to  be  bound  in  Conscience,  and  by  the  duty  which 
he  owed  his  coantrv, — to  give  intelligence  of  it  to  proper 
persons,  in  order  to  prevent  its  taking  place. 

Rogers  upon  this,  took  an  Indian  Spear,  that  was  in  the 
room  in  which  this  conversation  passed,  and  pointed  it  at 
Potter,  threatening  him  with  instant  death,  if  he  did  not 
swear  to  keep  this  matter  secret.  Potter  seeing  his  life  in 
danger,  cried  out  for  help,  but  was  not  heard  ;  upon  which 
he  fell  upon  his  knees,  and  begged  Rogers  to  spare  his  life 
till  the  next  day,  when  they  might  converse  together  upon 
the  subject  again,  and  he  hoped  with  mutual  satisfaction. 
That  made  Rogers  grow  somewhat  cooler.  He  then 
pressed  Potter  to  give  him  up  a  note  of  han'l  for  fifty 
pounds,  twelve  shillings  sterling,  which  he  had  given  him 
in  New  Yoik,and  likewise  to  give  him  dischaiges  from 
several  sums  of  money,  which  he  owed  Potter,  and  which 
he  knew  Pottv^r  had  set  down  in  his  books  of  accounts — 
but  Potter  did  not  comply  with  these  demands.  Ston 
after,  Rogers  opened  the  door  and  went  down  one  of  the 
steps  that  were  before  it  -,  ,and  Potter,  thinking  this  a  good 


o 

vi 


re 
hii 


bui 
pel 


R( 
Ci 
for 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     233 


in  the 
ed  it  at 
id  not 
life  in 
which 
his  life 
r  upon 
action. 
e    then 
or  fifty 
en  him 
LS  tiom 
which 
Dunts — 
Ston 
of  the 
a  good 


opportunity  to  get  out  of  liis  company,  cndcivored  to  push 
by  him  and  get  out  of  the  house.  But  Rogers  would  not 
let  him  go  without  blows  ; — he  struck  him,  and  kicked 
him,  saying  ''  damn  you,  you  shant  come  out  yet ;  I'll 
cook  you,  I'll  warrant  you,"  besides  other  very  foul 
language.  However  by  this  means.  Potter  at  last  got  out 
of  his  own  house,  and  went  to  his  own  lodging.  The 
people  were  all  exceedingly  surprised  at  this  behaviour  of 
Rogers,  as  they  had  imagined  t*^at  Potter  had  been  a 
great  friend  ai  d  favorite  ot  Rogers  as  in  truth  he  had 
been  till  this  extraordinary  conversation  which  he  did 
not  at  that  time,  communicate  to  anybody.  The  next 
day,  Potter  went  out  to  take  a  walk  ;  and  during  his 
short  absence,  Rogers  took  from  Potter's  lodgings  a  silver 
hiked  Sword,  worth  Six  Guineas,  a  Fowling  Piece,  twenty 
pound  weight  of  Beaver  Skins,  a  hat  and  other  wearing 
apparel.  Potter  on  his  return  from  his  walk,  met  Rogers 
on  the  Parade,  who  asked  him  what  he  thought  of  things 
then,  Potter  answered,  that  he  continued  in  the  same  way 
of  thinking  as  the  day  before  \  which  put  Rogers  in  a 
violent  passion,  and  made  him  swear  that  he  would  not  let 
Potter  go  out  of  the  Garrison. 

Potter  went  home,  and  did  not  yet  tell  what  had  passed. 
The  third  day,  Rogers  again  asked  Potter  what  his  thoughts 
were  upon  the  matter  he  had  proposed  to  him,  who  again 
refused  to  join  him  in  his  designs:  Wlicreupon  knocked 
him  down,  and  bid  the  guard  take  care  of  him  ;  but  they, 
seeing  that  Rogers  was  in  a  violent  passion  when  he  gave 
this  order,  did  not  obey  it,  and  Potter  was  not  confined, 
but  went  home  streight  to  his  lodging.  Then  several 
persons  who  had  been  witnesses  of  the  ill  treatment  he  had 
received  from  Rogers,  and  were  both  surprised  and  shocked 
at  it,  went  to  see  him  ;  and  amongst  the  rest,  Mr. 
Roberts,  the  Commissary,  who  advised  him  to  apply  to 
Capt.  Spicemaker  the  Conimanding  Officer  of  the  Troops 
for   protection.     And    Potter    did    so,   and    received    the 


nr 


"t:^ 


i  ii 


14 


234     'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rog'ers. 

Captain's  Protection,  and  received  no  further  injury  from 
Rogers  after  that  time. 

On  the  29th  of  August  last,  he  left  Michilimackina 
and  the  same  day,  or  the  day  before,  he  acquainted  Mr. 
Roberts  the  Commissary,  with  Roger's  private  conversation 
above  mentioned,  which  had  been  the  occasion  of  thtir 
quarrel,  before  he  left  Michilimackina.  Rogers  sent  him 
word,  that  if  he  would  not  hurt  him,  he  would  pay  him  his 
debt.  Potter  supposes  that  by  this  expression,  ''  if  he  would 
not  hurt  him,"  Rogers  must  have  meant,  if  he  would  not 
discover  the  aforesaid  private  conversation. 

Rogers  never  returned  him  the  sword,  and  hat,  and 
Beaver  Skins,  and  other  things  that  were  taken  out  of  his 
room.  Potter  says,  that  Rogers  is  in  debt  to  almost  all  the 
Traders  about  Michilimackina,  to  the  amount  of  100. ooo 
French  Livres,  all  which  debts  have  been  contracted  since 
he  has  been  at  Michilimackina.  He  says  that  Rogers  told 
him,  in  the  Conversation  aforesaid,  that  he  had  sent  eleven 
canoes  loaded  with  goods  to  Lake  Superior,  and  Lake 
Michigan  and  other  places  of  Indian  trade.  Potter  says 
that  Rogers  seems  to  him  to  be  collecting  an  interest  with 
the  Indians,  in  order  to  retreat  to  them  when  he  shall 
execute  his  purpose  of  leaving  the  British  Service  :  and  he 
suspects  that  one  Stoote,  and  one  Atherton,  design  to  go 
off  with  him. 

Sworn  before  William  Hay,  Esq  :  His  Majesty's 
Chief  Justice  of  the  Province  of  Quebec,  at 
Montreal   this  iQih  day  of  September,  1767." 

Letter  of  Colonel  Hopkins  to  Major  Rogers.  * 

Au  Cap  Francois,  Isle  de  St.  Domingo, 
the  9th  of  April,  176b. 
"  My  Dear  Rojers, 

This  is  the  3d  time  I've  wrote  you  since  our  last  meet- 
ing in  New   York,  and  althq'  our  absence    has  been  long, 

♦  Jobnton  MSS,  xv.     N.  Y.  Colonial  Hiil.  vii,  993. 


^journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     235 


my  sentiments  of  friendship  are,  and  always  will  be  the 
same  —  as  I  promised,  you  were  remembered  in  my  con- 
versations with  the  Minister  ot"  the  King  I  now  serve.  1 
have  reason  to  thinic  you  would  have  a  reasonable  gracious 
exception,  but  until  my  affairs  are  entirely  finished  and 
the  promises  which  were  made,  amply  accomplished,  I  can- 
not think  of  pursuading  or  enticing  you  on,  until  there 
shall  be  a  certainty  fixed  for  you,  or  such  of  our  acquaint- 
ance as  will  follow  my  example.  You  know  the  injustices 
we  have  suffered,  particularly  yourself,  nor  is  it  in  the 
power  of  England  to  recompence  you  for  the  disgraces  you 
underwent  for  having  served  them  too  faithfully.  Be 
assured,  my  dear  friend,  of  my  doing  and  contributing  every 
thing  for  your  honor  and  advantage,  Seize  every  opportunity 
of  ingratiating  yourself  into  the  favour  of  the  Indians  where 
you  are  placed  Governor,  by  which  means  and  your  own 
merits,  despair  not,  in  case  of  a  change,  to  be  raised  to  the 
rank  that  even  the  height  of  your  wishes  could  have  ex- 
pected. Mistrust  all  the  world  :  have  no  confidence  but 
in  those  of  whom  you  have  the  greatest  proofs  of  their 
friendship.  So  soon  as  the  little  difficulties  I  labor  under 
are  raised,  and  my  sort  fixed  you  shall  know,  and  also  the 
decision  in  regard  to  yourself — a  present  nous  parlerons 
des  affaires  publique. 

I  am  not  unacquainted  with  the  disturbances  in  North 
America.  I  foresaw  the  Storm  when  in  London,  that  lay 
cither  with  the  injustices  of  the  British  Minister  as  my 
reasons  for  the  steps  I've  taken,  but  my  dear  Rojers, 
altho'  detached  from  the  British  Interest,  entirely  and 
absolutely,  believe  me  always  North  America,  and  ready 
to  render  the  Continent  and  my  Countrymen  all  the  services 
which  may  depend,  or  which  can  be  expected  from  me, 
in  risquing  for  the  common  liberty  not  only  life  and  little 


PM 


1     i 


236     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

fortune,  but  also  in  being  an  advocate  for  them,  for  any 
assistance  or  supplys  that  the  present  circumstances  of 
their  affairs  may  exige.  There  can  be  no  obstacle  to  their 
being  a  free  and  independent  people  (preach  this  doctrine 
in  the  New  England  Provinces,  where  you  and  your 
family  have  so  much  interest.)  You  have  the  means  in 
your  own  hands ;  your  numbers  are  far  superior  to  any 
forces  that  can  be  sent  against  you  and  I  believe  there  are 
powers  who  might  think  themselves  happy  in  being  of  the 
number  of  your  allies  and  friends,  and  of  giving  you  the 
proofs  the  most  effectual  of  their  good  intentions  for  saving 
you.  Acquaint  Baube,  and  all  my  friends  the  Hurons, 
the  Pottawatameys,  ye  Chippawas,  and  the  Ottawas  of  the 
Change  I've  made  and  if  you  have  an  interview  w'ch 
Londiac  [Pontiac  ?]  take  him  by  the  hand  for  me,  and 
make  known  to  him  I  serve  his  Father  the  King  of  Fr?  nee. 
The  Reverend  Pere  Jesuite  Portier,  pray  him  dr.  me 
conserver  tojours  son  amite  le  famille  Je  Mess'rs  Reaumes 
&  St.  Martin,  particularment  ma  chere  Catharine,  donner 
moi  aussi  souvant  qui  possible  de  vous  nouvelles  et  croyer 
moi  sincerem?nt  votre.  And  write  me  fully  without  sign- 
ing your  name. 

Maryland. 

Mr.  Hopkins  is  well,  and  you  will  address  your  letters 
to  me  under  cover  to  him.  There  are  continual  opportuni- 
ties from  New  York  and  Philadelphia  for  Monte  O'Christ, 
or  by  the  Mississippi,  to  wr!te  to  me. 

N.  B. — The  author  of  this  letter  is  a  Mr.  Hopkins,  of 
Maryland,  formerly  of  the  i8th  Regiment,  after  which  he 
obtained  a  Capi's  Commission  to  Command  a  Corps  called 
the  Queen's  Independent  Company,  on  the  reduction  of 
which,  he  entered  into  the  French  service,  and  is  now  a 
Colonel  therein  in  Hispainola.  A  great  intimacy  always 
subsisted  between  him  and  Rojers." 


^ 


Journals  of  Major  Rober  ^  ^ogers.      237 


f  the 

w'ch 

and 

rnce, 

me 


Sir  lVillia?n  'Johmon  to  Genet jI  Gage.* 

Johnson  Hall,  Oct.  30,  1776. 

"  Since  my  last,  I  have  received  more  letters  from 
Michilimackinac  concerning  affairs  there,  by  which  I  find 
that  the  Commissary  has  been  leij  off  the  parade  by  a  file 
of  men,  and  confined  on  account  of  some  words  between 
him  and  the  Commandant,  concerning  a  cargo  of  Rum, 
which  was  siezed  on  the  north  shore  opposite  the  fort, 
the  particulars  of  which  are,  I  apprehend  contained  in 
letters  which  go  by  this  post,"t 


*yohnion  MSS   xv,  lai  :   Doc.  Hist.  N.   T.,  ii,  885. 

f  The  atfair  of  Mr.  Roberts,  was  concisely  as  follows  :  As  mentioned  on 
a  preceding  pjgc,  he  had  been  appointe>l  Ci)mmissary,  and  was  charged  with 
the  supervision  of  the  civil  affairs  pertaining  to  the  Indian  trade.  He  had 
not  been  long  at  his  p  >st  of  duty  before  he  be^an  to  observe  irregularitiis  and 
on  the  1 2th  of  August,  1767,  wrote  to  Sir  William  Johnson  as  follows  : 
"  Every  hjur  my  uneasiness  is  increased,  I  fear  that  in  spite  of  my  vigilance, 
rum  will  ^ei  amon;st  the  Indians  and  we  shall  have  Mischief  done.  I  hear  by 
some  rumors  the  Cliristian  Indians  have  Deen  stopped  at  the  Grand  Portage 
who  were  coming  in  to  hear  if  Rogers  would  treat  them  better  than  the  lait 
Commandant,     [yohnson  MSS.  xv,  28.) 

On  the  20th  of  August,  he  was  arrested  by  Major  Rogers,  under  circum- 
stances best  shown  by  his  own  metnjrial  to  Captain-Lieutenant  Frederick 
Christopher  Spiessmacher,  in  command  of  troops  at  that  place: 

The  Memorial    of  Benjamin    Roberts,    Esq.    Commissary    for    Indian 
Afi'airs  and  Trade  for  the  District  of  Michilimackinac.     To  Capt. 
Lieut.   Spiessmacher.     Commandant  of  the  Troops.     Greeting. 
Humbly  Sheweth, 

That  your  memori  ilist  received  information  yesterday  ofa  quantity  of  Rum  being 
hid  in  the  woods  on  the  island  opposite  tliis  place  :  that  your  memorialist  applied 
to  Captain  Rogers  for  assistance  to  bring  into  the  Fort  tlw;  Rum  that  should  be 
found;  that  then  Captain  Rogers  granted  a  Sergeant  and  two  men,  which 
your  memorialist  promised  to  pay  for  their  trouble;  That  your  memorialist 
deputized  his  clerk,  John  R.  Hanson  to  seize  tne  Hum,  and  furnished  him 
also  with  two  Canadiins  lo  assist  him. — that  the  rum  was  actually  siezed  and 
landed  on  the  wharf  at  the  Fort  gate  ;  ' — that  your  memorialist  desired  the  Rum 
should  be  put  into  the   King's  store  appointed  by  General  Order,  of  which  the 


*  In  a  lengthy  memorial  f   Gc«.  Gage,  by  Mr.    John  Weathcrhcad,  dated, 
Jmh.  17,  1773,  the  details  of   his  sni/ure  are  recited. — Jnhnson  MSS.  xxv,  181. 


? ' 


2^8      "Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 

Mr.  Roberts  in  a  lengthy  letter  to  Sir  William  Johnson, 
dated  Oct.  31,  i  767,  gives  some  details  of  the  disturbances 


Commissary  keeps  one  key  and  the  Traders  another, — that  Capt.  Rogers 
ordered  the  Deputy  Commissary  ot"  Provisions  to  take  charge  of  the  said  Rum  ; 
t^  't  your  memorialist  desired  that  he  might  be  permitted  to  keep  one  key  of 
the  stort,  as  well  a>  the  Deputy  Commissary  of  Provisions,  which  was  refused 
with  some  warmth  ;  that  \(;Ui  memorialist  said  he  looked  upon  himself  js  seizing 
officer,  and  tliereforc  accountable  for  the  Rum  ; — therefore  would  hold  the 
Deputy  Commissary  of  Provisions  liable  for  the  Rum.  Capt.  Rogers  told  your 
memorialist  he  was  very  impertinent,  and  said  that  your  memorialist  had 
nothing  to  say  to  rhe  affair,  your  memorialist  replied  he  was  acting  in  Office 
and  that  no  man  but  the  commanding  officer  dared  tell  your  memorialist  he 
was  impertinent.  Then  Capt.  Rogers  got  very  warm  and  gave  your 
memorialist  the  lie.  Your  memorialist  answer'-d  that  he  was  a  gentleman, 
and  that  he  would  not  dare  to  tell  him  so  out  of  the  limits  of  his  command. 
Then  Captain  Rogers  cried  out  he  was  challenged  as  commmandlng  officer , 
that  your  memorialist  denied  having  challenged  him  ;  that  Capt.  Rogers 
ordered  your  memorialist  in  anest,  which  your  memorialist  refused  ;  that  Capt. 
Rogers  called  the  guard,  ordered  your  memorialist'!  stick  (which  your 
Memorialist  used  to  examine  the  bales  and  sacks,  that  no  rum  is  hid  in  them) 
to  be  wrested  out  of  his  hands,  and  that  your  memorialist  was  lifted  up,  and 
carried  like  a  criminal  through  the  fort,  guarded  by  soldiers  with  fixed 
bayonets,  and  cast  into  his  house. 

Your  memorialist  from  such  arbitrary  proceeding,  has  the  gravest  reason  to 
apprehend  tlic  most  f^tal  consequences  to  his  person  and  effi^cts.  He  also 
suffers  much  in  mind  from  the  risque  these  Traders  run,  who  are  ventured 
into  the  Im'.ian  Country,  on  the  assurance  of  Rum  being  prohibited  for  trade 
in  the  Indian  Country.  Your  memorialist  must  further  inform  you  that  Rum 
was  let  out  of  the  Fort  after  tatoo.  That  after  your  memorialist  made  his  in- 
formation to  Capt.  Rogers  that  your  memorialist  saw  Capt.  Rogers  talking  to 
one  of  the  parties  concerned  in  carrying  out  Rum;  that  said  party  is  Stuart 
(to  whom  by  my  infoimation  the  rum  seems  to  belong)  was  met  crossing 
over  to  the  island  in  a  Battoe. 

Your  memorialist  apprehends  (that  as  it  is  His  Majesty's  Instructions  that 
no  person  having  Command  in  the  Indian  Country,  Should  interpose  hit 
authority  in  anything  concerning  the  tiade  or  civil  commerce  of  the  Indians ; 
but  to  give  the  Commissary,  or  other  Civil  Magistrate  all  the  assistance  in  his 
power),  that  he  has  been  greatly  atiused.  and  has  no  other  resource  than  your 
protection,  as  being  Commander  of  the  troops,  from  further  insult,  and  for 
the  security  of  the  Traders  who  labor  unler  many  grievances. 

Your  memorialist  intrcats  you  to  consider  the  importance  of  his  trust,  and 
the  appearance  such  behaviour  must  have  in  the  eyes  of  the  savages  who  are  to 


^N 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     239 


created  by  Rogers  not  mentioned,  in  the  preceding  corres- 
pondence.    The  names  Gooddard,  Tate,  Carver,  Engineer, 

listen  to  hit  voice  as  their  father.  That  his  military  honor  as  well  as  his  civil 
character,  is  irreparably  sullied  by  such  an  unheard  of  violence,  and  grant  your 
memorialist,  all  the  assistance  and  protection  in  your  power. 

Your  memorialist  must  add  that  he  is  now  on  half  pay.  having  resigned 
before  he  could  accept  of  his  employment, — therefore  don't  think  himself 
sutiject  to  arrest;  that  your  memorialist  when  the  necessity  of  the  service 
requires  it  thinks  he  is  in  duty  bound  to  set  on  a  Court  Martial,  if  he  can 
shew  no  urgent  cause  to  the  contrary,  being  first  tendered  his  full  pay.  Your 
Memorialist  is  very  sorry  that  any  ill  bred  expressions  occasioned  warmth 
t-'tween  the  Commandant  and  me.  but  yout  memorialist  is  in  duty  bound  to 
protest  against  the  Commandant's  proceedings,  least  part  of  the  general 
censure  may  fall  on  your  memorialist;  Taking  your  memorialists  case  into 
consideration  will  much  contribute  to  his  tranquility  tho'  your  memorialist  has 
no  doubt  of  your  assistance  in  every  legal  measure  for  the  security  of  the 
subject,  from  his  own  experience  and  universal  good  character,  yet  is  your 
memorialist  is  obliged  to  render  an  account  of  his  actions  and  occurancet  to  hit 
Superiors  he  is  obliged  to  take  this  formal  manner.  Your  Memorialist  Waiting 
the  event,  will  ever  pray. 

(Signed)  B.  Robkrti. 

Micilimackinac,  ii  August,    1767. 

yohmon  MSS.  xv,  38. 

Mr.  Roberts  had  upon  the  day  of  his  arrest,  and   having  already  been    in- 
formed by  Mr.  Potter,  of  the  treacherous  correspondence  that  had  been  going  on 
wrote  to  commanding  officer  of  the  troops,  in  the  first  moments  of  excitement 
this  letter : 
"Sir: 

I  impeach  Robert  Rogers  Esq  ,  commandant  at  Michilimackinac  for  hold- 
ing secret  correspondence  with  the  enemies  of  Great  Britain  and  forming  con- 
spira.:iet,  I  desire  you  in  your  allegiance,  to  seize  his  person  and  papers,  amongst 
which  you  will  find  sufficient  proof. 

I  am,  Sir. 

Your  humble  servant, 

B.  Roberts, 
Commistary  of  Indiam  Affairt. 
I  have  discharged  my  duty. 
To  Caft.  Lieut.  Spitismacker 
Command' t  of  tbt  troofs  at 
Miehilimackinac. 

A  court  ot  Inquiry  was  held  August  22  by  virtue  of  a  warrant  from  Major 
Rogers  and  the  circumstances  of  the  seizure  of  forty-one  kegs  of  different  sixes, 
holding  from  fwo  to  eight  gallons  each,  were  iworn  to  by  witneu.  (MSS.  xv, 
44.) 


'  I 


240     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


f       ■  ^ 


'.i  I 


Ir ' 


and   one   Atherton,*  formerly  in  Wendells    Rangers  ;  are 
mentioned  as  interested  in  Roger's  plans. 

He  attributes  much  of  the  difficulty  among  Indians  to 
rum,t  and  it  would  prove  of  great  advantage  to  the  trade  if 
all  the  rum  was  lodged  with  the  Commissary,  and  none 
given  or  sold  to  the  Indians  at  that  post, — "  that  then  he 
only  having,  as  they  call  it,  milk  to  give  the  Indians," 
their  presents  would  cost  less,  and  be  more  acceptable. 
He  thinks  the  garrison  should  be  often  relieved,  as  the 
tendency  was  for  the  soldiers  to  become  traders.  Of 
Major  Rogers  he  says  :  "  he  is  very  industrious  to  raise  the 
expense  of  our  department  that  his  might  appear  small,  and 
is  doing  everything  to  undermine  me  with  the  Indians  and 

Capt.  Speissmaclcer,  in  writing  to  Sir.  William  Johnson,  Sept.  3,  after  de- 
scribing the  affair  more  fully  described  in  enclosed  papers,  stated  his  belief  that 
both  parties  had  acted  imprudently,  and  says: 

"Some  time  after,  they  conferred  together,  and  both  came  to  my  room,  and 
before  Lieut.  Christie  and  me,  Lieut.  Roberts  and  the  Major  asked  pardon  of 
each  other  for  the  scurilous  expression  to  one  .ind  another.  Lieut.  Roberts 
said,  what  he  meant  by  Treason,  was  by  sending  him  like  a  criminal  to  his 
room."     (MSS.  xv,  35.) 

It  appears  that  Mr.  Roberts  was  a  second  time  arrested,  and  in  writing  to 
Daniel  Claus  at  Montreal,  Sept.  21,  1767,  he  complains  of  his  close  confinement, 
and  the  probability  of  his  being  sent  in  irons  to  Montreal.      (MSS.  xv,  74,90.) 

Capt.  Spiessmacker  wrote  to  Sir  William  Johnson  Sept.  27,  relating  the 
difficulties  that  had  occurred,  but  without  expressins;  his  own  opinions  con- 
cerning them.     (MSS.  xv,  80.) 

Roberts  again  memorialized  Capt.  Spiessmacker,  October  27,  praying  for 
protection,  complaining  of  close  confinement  without  cause,  a^id  stating  his  fears 
that  the  public  interests  would  suffer  on  account  of  his  forced  detention  from 
the  duties  of  his  office.     (MaS.  73.) 

*  It  appears  in  a  letter  from  Mr.  Roberts  in  London  to  Sir  William  Johnson, 
dated  June  7,  1771,  that  Atherton  had  commenced  legal  proceedings  for  alleged 
losses,  and  that  he  was  doing  him  much  injury. — Johmoni  MSS.  xx,  230: 
XXI,   32:   XXII,  14,  191. 

f  In  a  Memorial  of  the  body  of  English  Traders  at  Detroit,  the  same  opinion 
expressed,  and  the  advice  is  given  that  the  quantity  should  be  limited  to  50 
gallons  to  a  three-handed  battoe  load  of  dty  goods. — Johmon  MSS.  xv,  157, 


journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,     241 


are 


230  : 


to  get  a  general  petition  from  them  that  he  might  be 
Superintendent  to  the  westward.  I  believe  his  endeavours 
would  not  prevail  was  he  to  remain  here.  They  say  he 
promises  more  than  he  can  perform, — that  he  has  more 
love  for  packs,  but  less  sense  than  me." 

The  peace  which  Rogers  had  got  up  at  so  much  expense 
did  not  promise  to  bt  of  lona;  continuance,  and  tr  ubles 
between  the  conciliated  tribes  had  again  begu»  "^be 
Indians  at  Prairie  du  Chicn  had  shown  an  insolti..  pre- 
ference to  the  French  in  the  south-west.  Rogers  had 
taken  into  his  friendship  Mr.  John  R.  Hanson,  the  clerk 
of  Mr.  Roberts  afid  Johnson  was  cautioned  against  receiv- 
ing information  through  him. — Johnson's  MSS.  xv,  125. 

Sir  If^illiam  Johnson  to  Capt.  Cochran. 

Johnson   Hall,  Nov.  17,  1767. 

"  I  believe  the  public  opinion  concerning  Major  Rogers 
is  not  ill  founded.  I  raised  him  in  1755,  from  the  lowest 
station  on  account  of  his  abilities  as  a  Rangei,  for  which 
duty  he  seemed  well  calculated,  but  how  people  at  home, 
or  any  where  else,  could  think  him  fit  for  anyother  purpose 
must  appear  surprising  to  those  acquainted  with  him.  I 
bflieve  he  never  confined  himself  within  the  disagreable 
hounds  of  truths  as  you  mention,  but  I  wonder  much  they 
did  not  see  through  him  in  time." — "Johnson  MSS.  xv,  137. 

General  Gage  to  Sir  IVilUam  Johnson. 

New  York,  December  6,  1767. 

"  Mr.  Roberts  will  no  doubt  lay  his  complaints  before 
you.  I  have  near  twenty  affidavits  sent  by  Major  Rogers, 
which  most  in  fault  I  can't  say.  Most  probably  both  of 
them  in  some  degree.  But  I,  I  am  apt  to  believe  that  the 
Major  would  be  glad  of  any  excuse  to  rid  himself  of  an 
Indian  Commissary." 


M'    I 


h.  I 


'  ' 


I 


242     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 

Sir  William  Johnson  to  General  Gage,* 

Johnson  Hall,  November  24,  1767. 
"  I  do  not  doubt  but  that  Potter  will  make  the  most  of 
his  discovery,  from  his  cha'acter,  at  the  same  time  I 
believe  his  account  is  within  Conpass,  and  that  probably 
he  could  say  more  if  he  chose  to.  Major  Rogers  has  goods 
trading  for  his  benefit  in  the  Indian  Country  to  a  very  con- 
siderable amount,  and  the  returns  may  soon  be  in,  as  I  am 
informed  ;  for  which  reason,  I  thought  it  best  to  hint,  that 
it  would  not  be  amiss  to  have  them  secured  for  his  creditors. 
I  have  a  letter  from  Captain  Spice  Maker  on  the  subject  of 
Lt,  Robert's  confinement,  I  hear  the  latter  is  near  this 
place  on  his  way  down.** 

Sir  IVilliam  'Johnson  to  the  Earl  of  Shelhurnef 

Johnson  Hall,  Dec.  3,  1767. 
"  My  Lord, 

The  26th  Ultimo  I  had  the  honor  to  address  two  letters 
to  your  Lordship,  the  one  on  the  Subject  of  Indian  affairs, 
the  other  concerning  the  Commandant  of  Michilimackinac, 
which  was  accompanied  with  enclosures  on  the  latter  of 
which  subjects  we  have  not  heard  further  since. 

The  General  sent  to  have  him  apprehended,  but  I  have 
received,  a  very  extraordinary  plan  for  a  government,  etc., 
to  be  formed  at  Michilimackinac,  with  an  estimate  of  trade, 
all  which  I  understand  has  been  sznt  to  his  Majesty's 
Ministers. I     As  it  is  long,   and   that  it  speaks  for  itself, 


£,  i> 


*  Johnson  MSS.  XV,  154.     Doc.  Hitt    N.  T.  11,  888. 

■j-  Johmon  MSS.  xv,  167. 

;{;  An  elaborate  document  of  13  pages,  is  preserved  among  the  Johnson  MSS. 
(xxv,  108)  entitled  ••  An  Estimate  of  the  Furr  and  Peltrey  Trade  in  the 
District  of  Michilimacknac,  according  to  the  Bounds  and  Limits  assigned  to  it 
by  the  French,  when  under  their  '♦  Oovernment,  which  is  set  forth  in  the 
annexed  Map,  and  the  situation  and  names  of  the  Several  Posts  specified, 
etc.,  etc." 

This  is  evidently  the  document  referred  to  in  the  text.  The  map  is  not 
n<Av  found  with  it,  as  formerly  stated. 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,     243 


1767. 

B  most  of 
5  time  I 
probably 
las  goods 
very  con- 
,  as  I  am 
hint,  that 
creditors, 
subject  of 
near  this 

,  1767. 

vo  letters 
an  affairs, 
naclcinac, 
:  latter  of 

it  I  have 
lent,  etc., 
?  of  trade. 
Majesty's 
or  itself, 


)hn8on  MSS. 
Prade  in  the 
aiiigned  to  it 
forth  in  the 
>8ts  specified, 

e  map  it  not 


it  is  needless  here  to  point  out  the  falsehoods  and  absurdi- 
ties contained  in  it,  and  shall  only  remark  that  it  is 
calculated  with  an  eye  to  his  being  Govr  and  to  have  it  in 
his  power  to  carry  on  an  extensive  trade  where  he  pleases, 
assisted  by  four  or  five  companys  of  Rangers,  whom  he 
proposes  to  have  established  there.  In  time,  we  may  be 
form  several  governments,  even,  with  consent  of  the 
Indians,  but  it  is  certain,  that  unless  they  are  framed,  and 
their  power  executed,  by  the  most  disinterested  persons, 
they  will  totally  defeat  their  intention.  A  scheme  for 
establishing  a  needy  man,  of  bad  circumstances,  and  worse 
principies,  in  the  first  authority,  and  for  the  next  branch  of 
the  Legislature  of  such  traders  as  are  at  out-pusts,  is  too 
absurd  to  deserve  any  comment.  To  say  that  such 
Traders,  (or  merchants  as  they  call  themselves),  will 
avoid  being  guilty  of  \vrong,  as  their  own  interest  would 
be  thereby  arfected,  is  a  specious  tho'  false  argument,  and 
is  what  they  never  yet  regarded.  It  being  notorious  that 
men  in  trade, — much  superior  in  judgment  and  understand- 
ing to  any  who  resort  to  the  frontiers — have  constantly 
sacrificed  their  own  interest  together  with  that  of  the 
publick  to  the  present  moment,  and  they  must  always  do 
so  in  this  country,  for  reasons  that  can  be  easily  given. 

We  have  seen  how  the  New  York  Independent  Com- 
panies first  detached  from  His  Majesty's  best  troops, 
degenerated  in  America,  through  the  avarice  of  their 
captains,  who  to  my  certain  knowledge  seldom  kept  up 
half  their  number  and  these  were  for  the  most  part, 
creatures  unfit  for  any  duty.  How  much  more  may  we 
expect  that  Rangers,  under  an  interested  needy  man,  in  a 
remote  corners  without  check  or  control,  will  be  in  a 
short  space  of  time,  reduced  to  a  handfull  of  faggots,  or  at 
least  a  few  sufficient  to  be  employed  in  trade  for  him,  at 
the  charge  of  the  Crown : — but  I  shall  waive  this  point  to 


'•    1 


a 


\>  ' 


244      'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

proceed  to  the  material  objects  which  have  occasioned  this 
letter." 

After    a    lengthy    statement    of  views   in   respect   to    a 
General  Indian    Congress   to  settle  sundry  grievances  with 
respect  to  boundaries  and  lands,  the  necessity  of  regulating 
and  limiting   trade,  and    the  tendencies   towards  a  jealousy 
between   traders     from    different    Colonies,     where     their 
interests  come   in  conflict  in   remote  regions,  he  adduces 
reasons  for  encouraging  a  trade  nearer  home.      He  alludes 
to  the  successful  business   formerly  carried  on  by  Quebec 
and  Montreal,   when  in  the  hands  of  the  French,  and  the 
material    advantages    which    the   former   government   had 
realised  from    bringing  remote  tribes  into  personal   contact 
with  the  officers  of  Government,  and  among  the  improve- 
ments of  civilized   life.     He   notices  the  treachery   with 
which   the   noted  French  Partizan   Chabert   Toncaire  had 
endeavored  to  stir  up  discontent  and  insubordination  among 
the  Indians,   after  being  allowed   to  go  among  the  distant 
tribes  with  a  large  cargo  of  goods  ^'  with  many  assurances 
on  the  word  of  a  gentlemen  and  an  officer,  as  he  expressed 
it  ■,  that  he  would   not   only   demean   himself  as  a  faithful 
subject,  but  even  make  use  of  his  influence  for  the  public 
service  to  show  the  Indians  the  absurdity  of  their  expecta 
tions  from  France,   and   so  conciliate   them  to   the  British 
Government." 

These  fine  sayings  he  repeated  at  Niagara ;  in  the 
presence  of  Indians,  and  the  officers  of  the  garrison  ;  but 
when  a  little  distance  beyond  "  he  called  a  number  of 
Indians  together,  and  told  them  that  they  should  take  no 
notice  of  what  he  had  said  before — being  compelled  to  do 
so  in  the  presence  of  the  English  ;  but  that  he  had  brought 
them  assurances  from  the  King  of  France,  of  his  steady 
regard  for  them — that   he  would   shortly    show   it  by  the 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     245 


)ned  this 


ct  to  a 
ces  with 
:gulatiiig 
jealousy 
re     their 

adduces 

:  alludes 

Quebec 

,  and  the 

lent   had 

contact 
mprove- 
;ry  with 
aire  had 
n  among 
e  distant 
surances 
xprcssed 
a  faithful 
lie  public 
expecta- 
e  British 


;  in  the 
son  ;  but 
mber  of 
1  take  no 
led  to  do 
I  brought 
lis  steady 
it  by  the 


army  he  would  send  to  their  assistance  and  that  in  the 
meantime  they  should  begin  themselves  to  do  something 
against  the  English."     *     *     * 

"  But  to  return  to  my  subject  ;  I  cannot  help  expressing 
my  concern  to  see  not  only  difference  of  sentiments  and 
Jealousies  amongst  the  traders,  but  alto  an  infatuation  in 
favor  of  their  dangerous  projects,  which  induces  them  to 
make  misrepresentations  to  government  that  might  prove, 
if  credited,  fatal  to  themselves,  and  dangerous  to  the  public 
in  general.  The  public  interest  is  always  used  as  a  cloak 
to  private  gain  :  otherwise  they  would  have  no  occasion  to 
disguise  their  real  motive.  For  the  fact  is,  if  we  set  aside  a 
few  northern  people,  whose  case  I  have  already  excepted,  all 
the  rest  who  hunt  in  a  more  favorable  climate,  are  very  dif- 
ferently circumstanced  ;  so  that  if  La  Baye,  and  the  Miamis 
were  re-established,  their  conveniency  would  be  sufficiently 
answered.  The  Indians  have  no  business  to  follow  when 
at  peace  but  hunting.  Between  each  hunt  they  have  a 
recess  of  many  months.  They  are  naturally  covetous,  and 
become  daily  better  acquainted  with  the  value  of  our  goods, 
and  their  own  peltry.  They  are  everywhere  at  home,  and 
travel  without  the  expense  or  inconvenience  attending  our 
journeys  to  them.  On  the  other  hand,  every  step  our 
traders  take  beyond  the  posts,  is  attended  with  at  least  some 
risque,  and  very  heavy  expenses,  which  the  Indians  must 
feel  as  heavily  in  the  purchase  of  their  commodities, — all 
which  considered — is  it  not  reasonable  to  suppose  that,  they 
would  rather  employ  their  idle  time  in  quest  of  a  Cheap 
Market  than  sit  down  with  such  slender  returns  as  they 
must  receive  in  their  own  villages  ?  As  a  proof  of  which, 
I  shall  give  you  one  instance  concerning  Toronto,  on  the 
north  shore  of  Lake  Ontario^  formerly  dependant  on  Niag- 
ara :  which,  notwithstanding  the  aspersion  of  Major 
Rogers,  that  even  a  single  Um^tx  would  think  it  worth  atten- 


246     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


tion  to  supply  a  dependent  post — yet  I  have  iieard  traders 
of  long  experience  and  good  circumstances  afHrm  that  for 
the  use  of  that  place  for  one  season,  they  would  willinglv 
pay  Ciooo,  so  certain  were  they  of  a  quick  market,  from 
the  cheapness  at  which  they  coulil  afford  their  goods  there  ; 
and  I  am  certain  that  a  handsome  fund  would  arise  from 
farming  out  the  places  of  trnde  to  merchants  of  fortutie 
and  character,  they  giving  security  to  be  answerable  for  the 
misconduct  of  their  factors,  which  could  not  be  more  than 
we  find  at  present." 

The  writer,  after  expressing  at  length  his  views  as  to 
how  these  irregularities  may  be  best  remedied,  suggests  a, 
series  of  mcasujes,  one  of  which  is  as  iullows  :  "  That  all 
interfering  of  civil  or  Military  officers  be  particularly 
guarded  ajrainst,  by  express  orders  from  his  Majestv,  and 
that  the  duty  of  the  Commissaries  to  them  residing  at  posts, 
be  explained  in  such  a  manner,  as  to  prevent  disputes 
between  them  and  Commandants,  the  suoerintendeni 
being  answerable  to  removing  and  otherwise  ileal  with  aiiv 
of  the  Commissarys  who  act  contrary  to  instructions,  on 
due  complaint  made  to  him. 

Tlie  necessity  of  this  will  appear,  from  the  behaviour  of 
of  Major  Rogers  to  my  Commissary  at  Michilimackanac 
who — remonstrating  against  his  ii..ertering  and  against  his 
extravagance  to  the  Indians  (whom  he  brought  constaniU 
to  the  company,  and  insisted  on  their  being  loaded  with 
lavois,  in  all  appearance  to  acquire  an  interest  tor  th( 
dangerous  purposes  already  communicated  to  your  lordship), 
was  insulted,  di.igged  to  confinement,  and  sent  prisonei 
from  the  post,  notwithstanding  the  military  and  trading 
peof  le's  application  in  Ins  fa\  (^r.  From  what  has  been 
repeated  in  former  letteis,  and  from  the  many  repori> 
transmitted  on  Indian  affairs,  concerning  the  management 
of  these  people,  I  hope  will  evidently  appear,  what  arc  the 


"Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      247 


traders 
hat  for 
/illinyly 
t,  tVixii 
»  there  i 
se  from 
fortunt" 
;  for  tht" 
jre  than 

.^s  as  to 
iggesis  a, 
That  all 
ticularly 
;stv,  ami 
at  posts, 
disputes 
iiteiident 
with  aiu 
ions,   oil 

iviour  ot 
lackanac 
rainst  his 
jDstantly 

led  wiiii 
K)r   thi 

)rdsh':|>), 

prisoiu'i 
trading 

has  heni 
\j  re  port  N 
)a^;emciu 

I  arc  the 


powers  necessary  to  he  given  to  the  Depaitmcnt  for  the 
purposes  of  the  C-rown,  ami  the  public  advantage  ;  and 
therefore  it  will  he  unnecessar\  to  repeat  them,  or  to  dwell 
longer  upon  the  want  of  settling  these  important  points  and 
the  alarming  prospect  of  our  attairs  on  that  account. 

I  have  therefore  only  to  repeat,  that  the  promoting  of 
religion  amongst  them  is  In  no  means  to  he  neglected,  and 
that  the  establishment  of  Missionaries,  under  proper 
authority,  as  promised  and  expected  bv  the  Indians,  (many 
of  whoni  educated  in  the  principles  of  the  Church  of 
England  are  disgusted  at  our  neglect),  wouKi  have  very 
happy  ejects.  As  I  iinderstand,  .\.\  Episcopate  is  now 
solicited  for  by  the  National  Clergy  and  their  congregations, 
I  am  of  opinion  if  this  application  meets  with  the  success 
and  attention  which  it  appears  to  deserve,  that  such  an  es- 
tablishment besules  its  advantage  to  tlie  National  Chuich, 
and  its  members,  will  temi,  in  the  most  etfectual  manner, 
to  promote  religion  among  the  Indians,  under  a  proper 
Church  government,  and  tlje  auspices  of  the  dignihed 
clergy njcn  in  America." 

Sir  IVilliiim  [fohnson  to  Gen  Cage.* 

Johnson  Hall,  December  26,  1767. 

''  This  will  be  delivered  ti>  you  by  I..ieut.  Roberts,  who 
arrived  here  some  d.iys  ago.  It  is  judged  necessary  that 
as  he  was  sent  as  a  prisoner  troin  Michilimack'c  he  should 
wait  upon  you,  notwithst.uulmg  he  was  not  received  as 
such  by  the  Com  u.im  ling  Officir  at  the  Detroit,  to  whom 
he  was  orderc!  to  be  delivered  up,  but  ,va!»  left  at  liberty 
to  go  where  !k   pleased. 

From  the  conduct  of  the  comm.indant  >,^i  Michilimackinac 
it  is  evivlent  tliat  ilu  principal  cause  of  the  liifference  arose 
from    his  aversion    tu    an    uHicer    who    might    detect    or 

22 


I ' 


248     yournais  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


inrercrfere  with  him.  The  principal  dispute  which  arose 
on  the  seizure  of  the  rum,  is  certainly  in  favor  of  Mr. 
Roberts,  who  as  he  discovered  and  seized  it,  was  liable  to 
answer  for  the  same,  :ind  if  a  commanding  officer  will 
interfere  in  matters  or  trade,  or  any  other  points  which 
fall  within  the  limits  of  duty  prescribed  and  approved  of 
by  the  Government,  the  appointment  of  a  Commissary  is 
only  an  unnecessary  charge  to  the  Crown — besides  that 
such  treatment  lessens  a  Commissary  in  the  eyes  of  the 
Indians,  who  have  been  told,  agreeable  to  orders,  tliat  that 
officer  was  to  have  sole  management  of  their  Indian  affairs 
and  trade. 

Mr.  Roberts  might  have  been  more  cool  j  but  when  we 
consider  the  man  he  had  to  deal  with  and  the  discoveries 
he  had  just  made  of  his  designs,  it  will  in  a  great  measure 
account  for  his  conduct,  and  the  letters  I  have  received 
in  his  behalf,  as  well  from  the  officers  and  traders,  appear 
much  in  his  favor.  He  thinks  himself  greatly  injured, 
but  you  will  be  the  best  judge  on  hearing  what  he  has  to 
say,  and  examining  the  papers  which  he  will  bring  before 
you.  As  the  bonds,  etc.,  entered  into  by  the  Traders  are 
in  his  hands,  and  that  the  most  necessary  time  for  a  Com- 
missary's presence  is  early  in  the  spring,  i  think  it  best 
that  he  should  return  to  his  post  after  waiting  upon  you, 
without  any  other  delay  than  what  the  season  may  create, 
and  I  believe  the  must  expeditious  way  for  his  return  will 
be  by  Montreal  and  the  Ottawa  River,  which  is  generally 
open    some  time   before  the  Straits  of  Niagara. 

Mr.  Roberts  has  been  noi  only  aijuied  in  his  character, 
but  put  Ui  a  great  expense  by  his  journey,  the  amount  of 
which,  I  think  he  should  be  allowed  lor,  and  therefore 
take  the  liberty  to  recommend  it  to  you.     He  has  likewise 


w 


JobniQH  MSS,  XV,  lyo.     Dot.  Hut.  A'.  ?'.,  11,  895. 


"Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,     249 

accounts  of  expenses    incurred   lately,  which  if  paid  now, 
would  do  him  real  service."* 

Earl  of  Hillsborough  to    Sir  William  Johnson. 

Whitehall,  12  March,  1768. 
"  Chabert  Joncairc's  treacherous  conduct,  and  the 
wicked  and  intanu)Us  bciiaviour  of  Rogers,  and  his  corres- 
pondence with  Hopkins,  which  appears  from  a  copy  of  a 
letter  from  the  latter  which  you  inclosed  in  your  letter  No 
7.  arc  ot  such  a  nature  .ts  leijuire  the  utmost  ciicumspec- 
tion  and  attention  ot  his  Majesty's  Servants  in  America  ,  as 
in  the  present  statr  ot  sixiie  mens  dispositions  m  that 
country  when  ones  correspondence  o^  that  dangerous  tend- 
ancy  is  discovered,  there  is  reason  to  apprehend  there  may 
be  more  of  the  same  kind.' — A^.  T.  Colonial  Histuryy 
VIII,  36. 

Concerning  the  Instructions  received  hy  Major  Rogers  from  the 
Superintendent  of  Indian  jiff  air  s.'\ 

Sir  William  Joh.ison  in  writing  July  23,  1768,  to  iVlr. 
Hector  Theo's  Crainahe  ni  transmitting  a  copy  of  Roger's 
instructions  on  his  way  to  his  post,  to  be  used  on  his  trial, 
says : 

*'  These  Instructions  merely  regarded  his  conduct 
towards  the  liuli.uis. —  At  his  departure  he  was  ver^- 
desirous  of  some  laiituil:*  in  the  aiticle  ot  Expenses,  which 
1  did  not  then,  nor  since,  think  myself  justifiable  in  grant- 
ing him  j  but  on  the  contrary,  duiing  a  long  conversation 
gdve  him  such  verbal  orders  ab  I  apprehended  would  have 


*  Kuliertk  returned  tu  Michilinucki[uc  in  |un(-,  i:'61i,  jmJ  in  tiiii  abiitncc 
of  ten  inontlib,  the  rum  wa»  ''cither  stolen  or  had  leaked  out  ot  the  cmIci." 
Johmon  MS6.  x\v,    171. 


I 


250     journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

been  a  sufficient  caution  to  him  to  avoid  such  Expenses, 
and  I  make  no  doubt  he  had  the  like  from  the  Comman- 
der in  Chief.  As  1  could  not  accept  his  liills,  I  did  not 
keep  them  in  my  hands,  consequently  I  caiint>t  he  exact  as 
to  their  amount  ;  but  to  the  best  o\  my  recollection,  the 
whole  of  his  drafts  upon  me  tor  Indian  Expenses  since 
May  1769,  is  about  £.'5  000,  N.  Y.  Currency,  which  were 
chiefly  said  to  be  incurred  in  the  months  of  June  and  Julv, 
of  that  year.  As  to  the  inlorniaticMi  which  the  General 
desires  I  should  give  you  concerning  the  delivery  of  IIop- 
kin's  Letter,  and  the  Conversation  that  passed  thereon,  1 
am  to  tell  you,  that  Major  Rogers  was  at  that  time  gone  to 
his  post  :  that  I  enclosed  the  Utter  to  bin),  the  receipt  of 
which  he  acknowledged  and  for  which  he  returned  me 
thanks,  in  his  answer  to  me,  but  was  silent  as  to  the  con- 
tents, or  any  other  circumstaiices  regarding  it. 

'I'his  is  the  whole  ot  w'-.at  the  General  has  requned  of 
mc.  I  have  only  to  add,  that  I  am  sorry  his  conduct  has 
been  such  as  to  bring  him  into  his  present  situation. 

I  an)  etc. 

VVm.  Johnson. 

Daniel   Claus  to  Sir  William  "Johmon* 

(Quebec,  3'd  Aug., 
''The  Governor  asked  me  at  the  Sanu-  limi!, 
you  did  not  give  me  any  papers  relative  to  Majur 
Arfairs,  I  told  liini  vou  was  not  returned  Irom 
Coast  when  1  left  home.  He  is  an  entire  stranger  to 
plot  with  the  r'renchnian,  and  1  could  ^ive  him 
ticulars,  as  1  knew  but  a  little  about  it,  and  that  by 

I  ■  V    fl  II  I  ■ 


1768. 
whether 
Rogers, 
the  Sea 
this  last 
no  par- 


,  ....  .  ..  ,         - -  ^  heiirsay. 

The  Chief  Justice    Hav   t<  '-  me   that  in   common  law   the 
affidavit  would  not    hurt  tnm.      Rogers  wants  to  prolong 


R< 


*   Juhrnvn  MS^,,  xvi.  113. 


'Journals   of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     251 

his  tryal  upon  several  pretences,  and  desires  to  be  tried  by 
a  civil  court.  When  Mr,  Hay  told  me  he  would  en- 
deavour to  evade  In  having  his  crime  changed  to  Mutiny — he 
standing;  now  indicted  tor  High  Treason,  a  crime  under  the 
cognizance  of  the  civil  law,  and  the  form,er  under  that  of 
the  Military." 

Sir  IViHiam  Johnson  to  the  Earl  of  Hillsborough. 

Johnson  Hall,  Aug.  17,  1768. 
"  The  Indians  in  the  parts  adjacent  to  Michilimaclcinac 
have  been  tt-cated  at  a  very  great  expense  for  some  time 
past.  Vlajor  Rogers  brings  a  considerable  charge  against 
the  crown  for  mediating  a  peace  between  some  tribes  of 
the  Sioux  and  some  C'hippawaes  living  about  Lake  Su- 
perior, which,  had  it  been  attended  with  success,  would 
have  been  only  interesting  to  a  very  few  French,  and  others 
that  had  goods  in  that  part  of  the  Country,  but  the  con- 
trrry  has  happened,  and  they  are  more  violent  than  ever 
against  one  another,  which  perhaps  is  not  an  unfavorable 
circumstance  to  us  at  this  juni  ture,  but  the  Indians  on 
finding  that  they  are  to  receive  large  presents  for  promising 
to  lay  down  their  arms,  will  never  want  occasion  to  quarrel 
with  one  another.'' 

Daniel  Claus  to  Sir  IVilliam  Johnson. \ 

Williamsburgh  26  Sept.,  1768. 

*'  The  otlicers  horn  Michil'  that  are  to  prt)secute  Major 
Rogers  were  not  arrived,  when  I  left  Montreal,  hut  hourly 
expecteil.  If  thev  .irriveil,  the  prisoners  could  not  come 
before  the  court,  having  been  obliged  to  begin  a  Salivation, 


*   JcL-'ison  .IfiV.S'.,  vvi,  141.     A^.  K  Colonial  Hitlory,  vni,  94. 
f    Jijknton  MSS  ,    I VI,  169 


' ' 


252     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


a  little  before  I  came  away.*  The  principal  paper  that  is 
wanted  from  you,  is  Potter's  affidavit,  you  having  the 
original.  I  brought  Hopkiii's  letter  iiaclc,  and  left  Roger's 
original ;  acknowledged  the  recs-ipt  of  it  as  none  but 
original  papers  may  be  produced  before  a  court  Martial 
sitting  on  such  occasions,  Col.  Jones  promised  to  take 
good  care  of  it." 

Sir  PFilliam  "Johnson  to  General  Gage:\ 

Johnson  Hall  Oec.  16,  1763. 

"  I  hope  that  any  aflair  of  party  arising  from  the  late 
proceedings  against  Major  Rogers  may  totally  subside.  If 
not,  it  will  easy  to  see  what  keeps  it  up.  The  gentlemen 
concerned  in  the    prosecution  not    having   the    same  docu- 


*  Mcrct  ial  Mrdicines  ailministcreil  t'>  the  i-xtcnt  of  producing  ptyalism, 
were  at  thU  period  regarded  as  an  essrnti.ii  and  radical  cure  uf  a  certain  disease 
communicatrd  by  infection,  that  nerd  not  lie  here  named,  and  wi*  lubmlt  this  as  a 
prubabh'  explanation  of  the  above  statt-mcnt.  'I'he  following  act  u>  the  Legis- 
lature of  New  |{atn|>thire,  leads  to  the  inference  that  Rogers  wii  easily 
tempted,  and  that  he  was  not  alone  in  sutlering  the  conic4Ucnccs  : 

An  ait  to  diiiolve  ike   Mairiag^e  hetivfen  R'jhert   Rearers  tinJ  Elizabeth  his  zvi/c. 

Passed    March  4,  177S. 

Whereas  Elizabeth  Rogers  of  Portsmouth,  in  the  County  of  Rockingham, 
and  State  aforesaid,  hath  petitioned  the  CJeneral  Assembly  for  sai/  State,  setting 
forth,  that  She  was  married  to  thtt  s.ii  I  Robert  Ro|u'ers  about  seventeen  years 
ago,  for  the  greater  part  of  which  time  he  had  absented  himself  from,  and 
totally  neglected  to  support  and  maintain  licr,  and  had  in  the  most  Hagrant 
manner  in  a  variety  of  ways,  V'iol.iteii  the  Marriage  t'ontract ;  but  especially 
by  infidelity  :o  her  bed;  For  which  reasons  praying  that  a  divorce  from  the 
said  Robert  Rogers,  -V  I'lmulti  M.itriiKuitii,  might  be  |,:ranted.  The  principal 
facts  contained  in  said  petition  being  made  to  appca;  upon  a  full  hearing 
thereof  : 

Ttfrefore, 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Council  and  House  of  Representatives  for  Said  State, 
in  General  Assembly  convened,  That  thi'  Bonds  of  Matrimony  between  the 
said  Rohot  and  hli.-aheih,  he  ,ind  hereby  are  dissolved. 

f  Johnson  MSS.,  x*ii,  13.  » 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     2^3 


iat  IS 
g  the 
)ger's 
?  but 
[artial 
>  take 


ments  to  do  him  a  prejudice  as  himself  and  sundry  others 
have  to  manifest  his  innocence,  and  induce  the  publick  to 
deem  the  whole  as  a  Malicious  attack  upon  a  man  of  worth." 

Benjamin  Roberts  to  Sir  IVilliam  Johnson.   * 

Montreal  11  May,  1769. 

Sir  :  Your  favor  of  the  24iilt  I  received  the  8th  on  my 
arrival  here.  It  made  me  much  more  happy  to  find  I  had 
not  forfeited  your  esteem,  than  if  it  had  been  an  order  to 
reinstate  me  in  mv  office.  It  came  in  just  time  enough 
to  bear  up  my  spirits,  under  the  disagrcable  situation  I  am 
now  in,  surrounded  by  enemies,  and  threatened  with  as- 
sassination. 

My  letters  were  detained  in  Montreal  by  Mr.  Goddard, 
who  was  told  I  w<i!t  on  my  way  up,  and  was  waiting  in 
expectation  of  them  at  ^)uebec,  that  I  might  decide  there, 
what  course  to  take. 

I  sent  Some  letters  by  Colonel  Provost  inclosing  the 
regulations  made  here,  and  advising  you  of  my  draft  for 
XlOO  York,  payable  at  the  house  of  John  Weatherhead. 

The  day  before  yesterday  I  waited  on  Colonel  Jones, 
to  let  him  know  of  mv  arrival,  and  there  saw  Rogers,  I 
left  the  house  first.  He  overtook  me  about  20  yards  from 
the  house.  He  asked  me  how  I  did,  and  then  told  me  he 
wanted  to  speak  to  me.  He  had  in  his  right  hand  a  stick 
with  a  dart  in  it,  and  a  long  spike  in  the  fcril,  with  which 
he  opposed  my  going  further,  and  asked  me  if  I  would  give 
him  satisfaction  for  bribing  Potter  to  swear  his  life  away. 
I  told  him,  when  he  was  at  liberty,  I  would  make  him 
give  me  satisfaction  for  the  <11  usage  I  had  received  from 
him  at  MichilimacknaC.      He  said   he  had  a  case  of  pistols 


Jobrntn  MSS,,  xvii,  154. 


254     journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


in  his  pocket,  under  his  coat,  ano  matched  hold  of  them, — 
said  I  must  itnmediaicly  lake  one  and   fire  it  in  the  street 
with  him.      1  answered   I   would  chose  my  own  arms  and 
place;    that  the  people  wcic  l>(y;innin^  to  gather  and  if  he 
was  a  brave  man,  he   wouUi    not  speak    loud,  or  we  would 
be  hindered.      He  a>ked  me  to  meet  him   at  the  mill,  out- 
side the    Recollet  Gale.      I  U)ld  him  1  would  at  5  the  next 
morning,  but  he    desired  it    sht)u!d   he   at    10  o'clock,  and 
alone.      I  said  I  could  not  trust  myself  to  such  a  man,  who 
I  heard  had   neither  honor  nor  couraiic.      He  made  use  of 
many   invectives.      I  asked   him,  smiling',  what  became  of 
all  the  valor,  when   he   and  i  w  is   on  a  footino.  and  he  ac- 
knowledged   himself   a    Cow;ird,  and    begged    my   pardon. 
He  told  me,  he'd    blow    my   brains  out   and   not   give  me 
any  fair  chance  for  my   life,  for  he'tl  kill  me  whenever  he 
could.     I  all  along  could  not   forbear  laughing,  to  see  how 
he  trembled,  fumbling   under   his  coat    with    one    hand  for 
his  pistols,  and  with  the  other  shaking  his  stick.      He  was 
pale  as   death,  with    his   teeth   gnashing,  I  desired  him  not 
to  oppose  my  going  about  mv  business, —  says  he  "  do  you 
laugh  in  my  face  .'   He  put  his  hand  to  my  face  and  threat- 
ened to  pull    my    nose.     I  told    him    he   had  better  let  this 
alone  i  that  if  I  had  my  sword  on  or  even  he  thought  my 
limbs  as  strong   as    his,  he   would    not   dare  to  insult  me  : 
but  that  he    was  now    very    brave,  with    his   pistols  and  a 
spear,  against  a  naked   man.      He  went    oft",  and  I  went  to 
Mr.  Goddard,  and  provided  myself;  but  somebody  hearing 
he  had  been    twice    to   look    foi    me    at  my    lodging's  and 
that  l)e  stop'd  one  in  the  street,  let   Mr.  Forbishers  who  is 
my  friend,  know  of   it,  and    he  told    Colonel    Jones,  who 
sent  for  Rogers,  and   threatened   to  put  him   in  close  con- 
finement, if  he  did  not  give  his  word  and    honor  he  would 
neither  give  nor  receive  a  chalenge  from  me,  or  insult  me  in 
any  wise.     He  sent  the   town    Major   to  me,  to   exact  my 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     255 


promise,  threatening  to  put  me  in  arrest  if  I  refused  it.  I 
promised  I  wouKl  not  accept  of,  or  send  him  a  chalengc. 
The  next  morning,  I  went  to  the  ground,  at  the  hour,  but 
he  was  not  there.  I  was  told  he'  was  walking  the  ram- 
parts However  he  gave  out  he  had  pulled  my  nose,  and 
made  me  go  down  on  my  knees  in  the  street,  to  promise  I 
would  go  out  with  him; — that  he  had  been  in  the  field, 
and  [that]  I  did  not  appear ;  that  now  he  would  give  me 
no  fair  play  for  my  life.  1  went  to  Colonel  Jones  yester- 
day and  told  him  the  affair.  He  said  he  had,  before  wit- 
nesses, made  Rugers  give  his  word  of  honor  he  would  not 
go  in  my  way  : — that  t'was  I  that  insulted  him  as  he  was 
walking  by  my  door;  I  desired  he  might  keep  the  other 
side  of  the  street  ; —  that  he  was  a  Rascal.  He  answered, 
was  as  free  for  him  as  for  me,  and  called  me  a  puppy,  and 
that  I  challenged  him. 

Think  how  disagreeable  my  situation  ;  obliged  to  carry 
pistols  in  my  pocket,  and  be  on  my  guard  against  a  man 
who  Colonel  Jones  wont  believe  carrys  arms,  Notwith- 
standing all  that  is  said  by  evervbody  seems  prepossessed 
in  his  favor.  What  then  can  I  expect,  if  any  accident 
should  happen  ^  * 

Benjamin  Roberts  to  Sir  IViUiam  'Johnson '\ 

New  York,  Feb.  12,  1770. 

*'  1  find  by  Mr.  Wallace  and  others,  that  Rogers  is 
making    r.  noise    in   England — he    might  keep    me  in    hot 

*  On  Mr.  Roherti  arrival  in  Albany  on  the  6th  of"  Dec,  1769,  a  writ  was 
issued  againbt  him,  out  of  the  Miyot's  Court,  in  an  action  of' trover  lommented 
l)y  Robtrt  Hcnsy,  John  Jancll  ani  J.inicj  Abbott,  ("or  the  whole*  amount  of 
the  rum  scixed  in  1767,  and  he  was  arrested.  Not  wishing  to  have  hit  caie 
tried  in  .Albany  he  [irmuied  a  transfer  of'  suit  to  New  York,  where  Mr. 
Weathtriiead  beiame  bis  special  bail,  .md  he  soon  after  sailed  tor  Hngland. 
The  trial  came  on  in  his  absence,  and  from  the  want  of  papers,  to  prove  hit 
case,  the  jury  found  a  verdict  of  L'i7i  dama^'es  for  the  plaintilFs  besidet  the 
cotts  of  luit,  which  his  bail  was  forced  to  pay  —  'J^hmou  M^S.,  xxv,  191. 

f  Johmun  MSa.,  xviii,  179. 


256     'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

water,  if  I  have  not  such  letters  from  you  as  may  gain  me 
protection." 

Benjamin  Roberts  to  Sir  fVilliam  "Johnson.* 

London,  8  August,  1770. 

"  Vile  as  Rogers  is,  his  story  is  much  attended  to 
amongst  some  of  the  great,  who  are  glad  to  censure  any 
characters,  as  they  can't  bear  to  see  any  without  a  blemish  ; 
*t  would  be  so  different  to  their  own.  So,  till  that  fellow 
is  sent  somewhere,  I  shall  be  continually  plagued  with 
contradicting  his  vile  story." 


Benjamin  Roberts  to  Sir  IVilliam  Johnson  * 

New  York,  February  19,  1770. 

"  Kingston  has  a  most  extraordinary  letter  from  London, 
which  says  that  Major  Rogers  was  presented  to  His 
Majesty,  and  kissed  his  hand — that  he  demanded  redress 
and  retaliation  for  his  sufferings.  The  minister  asked  what 
would  content  him.  He  desired  to  be  made  a  Baronet, 
with  a  pension  of  £600  St'g,  and  to  be  restored  to  his 
Government  at  Michilimackinac,  and  to  have  all  his  ac- 
counts paid,  Mr.  Fitzherbert  is  his  particular  friend. 

Rogers  has  got  his  Salary  from  G.  Carlton  as  Govr. 
His  expenses  at  Montreal,  etc.,  were  paid  him  here — he 
has  got  them  again  in  England,  and  also  his  accounts  for 
his  expedition  to  the  North-west. 


*  Johnson  MSS.,  xix,  172. 

In  a  letter  from  London  dated  Oct.  3,  1770,  Mr.  Roberts  says:  "I  am 
informed  by  good  authority,  that  three  of  the  ministry  intend  providing  for 
Rogcri." — Johnson  MSS.,  xix,  2x6. 

f  JoknioH  MSS.,  xviii,  185. 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      257 

Stedman  has  presented  large  accounts  of  losses  and 
damages  sustained,  and  is  likely  to  have  them  paid. 

I  suppose  I  shall  find  a  strong  party  against  me  bv 
Rogers.  The  fear  of  that  alone,  made  me  trouble  you  for 
a  Recommendation.  '  Twould  be  so  dishonourable  to  see 
that  villian  taken  notice  of,  uid  I,  that  have  served 
thirteen  years  unblemished,  and  in  many  Capacities,  em- 
ployed, not  taken  notice  of.  The  triumph  would  be  too 
great  for  our  enemies.'' 


Appendix  to  a  Letter  from  "James   Rivingtoti  to  Sir  lyUliam 
'Johnson^'^  dated  November  19,  IJ'JO. 

*' The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  Letter  I  received 
per  paquet  from  England  : 

'*  Rogers  talks  very  high  of  his  usages  and  demands 
large  terms, — to  be  created  an  English  liaronet,  and  have 
£600  a  year,  with  a  .Majority  in  the  Army,  or  he  would 
not  be  Silent.  I^hey  have  given  him  all  his  pay  as 
Governor  of  Michilimackinac,  to  this  time,  but  they  have 
paid  the  accounts  ot  the  Expediti  hi,  and  Boats  he  sent 
from  the  above  mentioned  Post,  to  rTiake  discoveries  in  the 
back  countries,  to  one  Carver.!  Mr.  Fitzherbert,  wh(»  is 
his  friend,  says  he  will  give  him  something,  for  with  his 
cursed  impudence  he  hums.J;  all  the  great  people,  and  1 
firmly  believe  he  will  succeed  beycmd  what  every  one  in 
America,  who  knows  him,  could  expect." 


*  yobmon  MSS.,  xviii,  i86. 

f  Jonathan  Carver,  whose  travels  were  published. 

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258     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

Benjamin  Roberts  to  Sir  William  "Johnson.^ 

London  i  September,  177 1. 

*'  Rogers  is  likelv  to  get  his  money  paid,  which  was  re- 
jected before  in  England  and  America.  He  has  many 
people  pushing  for  him,  to  whom  he  owes  money." 

Malar  Robert  Rogers  to  Sir  William  Johnson. '\ 

"  Sir  :  Havingon  my  way  to  iVIichilimackinak  in  the  1766, 
been  favored  with  your  appointment  to  manage  the  Indian 
Affairs  at  that  post,  I  request  the  favor  of  you  to  certify 
chat  appointment,  as  also  the  advance,  which  commissary 
who  succeeded  me  had  per  year,  in  order  that  I  may  be 
paid  by  Government  for  that  Service,  I  am  Sir, 
Your  most  obedient  and  most 
humble  Servant, 

Robert  Rogers. 
Spring  Gardens  at  Charing  Cross, 

Monday,  loth  August,  1772.'* 


APPENDIX  D. 


Official  Documents  and  Correspondence  relating 
TO  Major  Rogers,  before  his  open  adherence  to 
THE  Royal  Cause  in  the  Revolution. 

Major  Rogers  before  the  Pennsylvania  Committee  of  Safety. 

The  records  of  this   Body   in   their  proceedings   under 
date  of  September  22,  I775(  have  the  following  entry  : 

*  Johnson  MSS.y  xxi,  82. 
f  Joknun  MSS.y  xxi,  238. 


^Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,     259 

"  Major  Rogers  having  arrived  here  from  England,  and 
being  on  half  pay  in  the  British  Army,  this  Board  think  it 
necessary  that  he  should  be  taken  prisoner.  Colonel 
Roberdeau,  at  the  request  of  this  Board,  accordingly  give 
directions  to  Captain  Bradford,  to  take  the  Said  Major 
Rogers  a  prisoner  and  bring  jiim  before  theiAi."* 

Mr.  Rogers  was  accordingly  brought  as  a  prisoner  before 
the  Board,  but  not  having  an  answer  from  the  Congress, 
it  was  thought  proper  that  he  should  give  his  word  of  honor 
to  appear  before  the  Board  the  next  day,  at  9  o'clock, 
which  word  he  accordingly  gave. 

In  the  mean  time  an  answer  was  received  from  Con- 
gress, in  the  following  Resolve,  viz  : 

"In  Congress,  Sept.  22,  1775. 
Resolved.  That  in  case  the  committee  find  nothing  against 
Major  Rogers  except  that  of  his  being  a  half  pay  Officer, 
that  he  be  discharged  on  giving  his  parole  not  to  take  up 
arms  against  the  Inhabitants  of  America,  in  the  present 
Controversy  between  Great  Britain  and  America." 

A  True  Copy  from  the  Minutes : 

Charles  Thomson,  Secretary" 

He  appeared  accordingly,  and  gave  the  following  Parole  : 
"  I,  Robert  Rogers,  Major  on  half  pay  in  his  Majesty's 
Army,  a  prisoner  in  the  custody  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety  for  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  and  being  kindly 
treated  and  protected  by  them,  and  engaged  on  parole,  do 
hereby  solemnly  promise  and  engage,  on  the  honor  of  a 
Soldier  and  a  gentleman,  that  I  will  not  bear  arms  against 
the  American  United  Colonies,  in  any  manner  whatever, 
during  the  present  contest  between  them  and  Great  Britain  ; 
and  that  I  will  not  in  that  time,  attempt  to  give  intelligence 

*  Force't  American  Archives^  Fourth  Series,  iii,  865. 


26o     'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

to  General    Gage,  the    British    Ministerys    or    any  other 
person  or  persons,  of  any  matter  relating  to  America." 

Robert  Rogers  Major. 

Agreeable  to  his  request,  he  was  furnished  with  a  copy 
of  his  Parole,  and  the  following  certificate,  viz  : 

"  These  are  to  certify  to  all  persons  to  whom  these 
presents  may  appear  ;  that  the  above  writing  is  a  true  copy 
of  the  Parol  of  honor  given  by  the  bearer,  Major  Robert 
Rogers,  to  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  the  Province  of 
Pennsylvania  -,  it  is  therefore  recommended  to  such  persons 
that  the  said  Major  Rogers  be  permitted  to  pass  where  his 
business  may  lead  him,  without  any  hindrance  or  molesta- 
tion."* 


Major  Rogers  before  the  New    Tork  Committee  of  Safety, 

In  less  than  a  week  after  receiving  the  above  certificate, 
M^or  Rogers  appeared  before  the  New  York  Committee 
of  safety,  and  under  date  of  September  27,  1775,  we  find 
the  following  entry  : 

'•  Mr.  Robert  Rogers,  commonly  called  Major  Rogers, 
according  to  directions  for  that  purpose,  attended  on  the 
Committee.  He  absured  the  Committee  that  he  was  a 
prisoner  on  his  parole  of  honor  to  the  Committee  of 
Safety  at  Philadelphia ;  that  he  received  from  the  said 
Committee  a  certified  copy  of  his  parole,  with  a  certi- 
ficate thereof,  signed  by  Benjamin  Franklin,  which  he 
unfortunately  lost  ;  and  Mr.  Rogers  declared  to  this  Com- 
mittee, upon  his  honour  as  a  soldier  and  a  gentlemen,  that 
he  will  not  depart  from  this  city  without  leave  of  this 
Committee,  until  he  shall  have  recovered  the  said  certi- 
fied Copy  of  his  parole,  or  another  certified   copy  thereof, 


*  Amtrican  Archives,  Fourth  Series,  iv,  874. 


other 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     261 

and  produce  the  same  to  this  Committee  :  and  that,  in 
the  mean  time,  he  will,  on  request,  attend  upon  this 
Committee.  Mr.  Rogers  informed  the  Committee  that 
he  lodges  at  Doctor  Harrison's  in  Broadway."* 

A  certified  copy  of  the  lost  parole  and  pass,  was  re- 
ceived by  post  from  the  Philadelphia  Committee  of  Safety, 
October  5,  ijyS-t 

Extract  of  a  letter  from   Major    General    William   Howe  to 
the  Earl  of  Dartmouth^  datrd  Boston^  November  26,  1775. 

''  A  letter  from  Major  Rogers,  at  New  York,  to  Gene- 
ral Gage,  being  directed  to  the  Commander  in  Chief,  came 
to  my  hand  since  the  General's  departure  wherein  he  has 
made  offers  of  his  services  ;  to  which  I  have  given  en- 
couragement, by  desiring  him  to  make  his  proposals,  and 
by  giving  an  assurance  that  I  am  well  inclined  to  do  every 
thing  in  my  power  to  afford  him  an  opportunity  of  recom- 
mending himself  to  His  Majesty's  future  favour.  I  find 
from  Governour  Tryon,  that  the  Rebels  have  made  con- 
siderable overtures  to  him.";}; 

Letttr  from    President    Wheelock  of   Dartmouth    College    to 
General  Washington^  dated  December  2,  1775. 

*'  Much  Honoured  and  Respected  Sir  : 

On  the  13th  Ult.,  the  famous  Major  Robert  Rogers 
came  to  my  house  from  a  tavern  in  the  neighborhood, 
where  he  called  for  refreshments.     I  had  never  seen  him 


*  American  Archives,  FourtA  Series,  111,914;  yournals  N.    T.'  Provincial 
Congress,  i.  157. 

fib.  Ill,  1271. — Journal  N.    T,  Provincial  Congress,  1,  167. 
J  Ameriean  Archives,  Fourth  Series,  ill,  1 674. 
§  Then  in  camp  before  Boston. 


262     journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


|i        ! 


before,  He  was  in  but  ordinary  habit,  for  one  of  his  char- 
acter. He  treated  me  with  great  respect  :  said  he  had  come 
from  London  in  July,  and  had  spent  twenty  days  with  the 
Congress  in  Philadelphia,  and  I  forget  how  many  at  New 
York  ;  had  been  offered  and  urged  to  take  a  Commission 
in  favor  of  the  Colonies  ;  but,  as  he  was  on  half  pay  from 
the  Crown,  he  thought  proper  not  to  accept  it  ;  that  he  had 
fought  two  battles  in  Algiers  under  the  Dey  ;  that  he  was 
now  of  design  to  take  care  of  some  large  grants  of  land 
made  to  him  ;  that  he  was  going  to  visit  his  sister  at 
Morristown,  and  then  return  by  Merrimac  River  to  visit 
his  wife,  whom  he  had  not  yet  seen  since  his  return  from 
England  ;  that  he  had  got  a  pass  or  license  to  travel,  from 
the  Continental  Congress  ;  that  he  came  in  to  offer  his 
service  to  procure  a  large  interest  for  this  College  ;  the 
reputation  of  it  was  great  in  England  ;  that  Lord  Dart- 
mouth, and  many  other  noblemen  had  spoken  of  it,  in  his 
hearing  with  expressions  of  highest  esteem  and  respect  ; 
that  Capt.  Holland,  Surveyor-General,  now  at  New  York, 
was  a  great  .friend  to  me  and  the  College  and  would  assist 
me  in  the  affair ;  and  that  now  was  the  most  favourable 
time  to  apply  for  a  large  grant  of  lands  for  it. 

I  thanked  him  for  expressions  of  his  kindness,  but,  after 
I  had  shown  some  coldness  in  accepting  it,  he  proposed  to 
write  to  me  in  his  journey,  and  let  me  know  where  I  might 
write  him  and  he  should  be  ready  to  perform  any  friendly 
office  in  the  affair.  He  said  he  was  in  haste  to  pursue  his 
journey  that  evening.  He  went  to  the  aforesaid  tavern, 
and  tarried  all  night  :  the  next  morning  told  the  landlord  he 
was  out  of  money  and  could  not  pay  his  reckoning — which 
was  three  shillings,  but  would  pay  him  on  his  return,  which 
would  be  within  about  three  months,  and  went  on  his  way 
to  Lyme ;  since  which  I  have  heard  nothing  from  him. 
But  yesterday,  two  soldiers,  viz  :  Palmer,  of  Oxford  (whom 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      263 


they  say  was  under  Colonel  Bedel)  and  Kennedy,  of  Haver- 
lill,  on  their  return  from  Montreal,  informed  me  that  our 
cfficers  were  assured  by  a  Frenchman,  a  Captain  in  the 
Artillery,  whom  they  had  taken  captive,  that  Major  Rogers 
was  second  in  command  under  General  Carlton  ;  and  that 
he  had  lately  been  in  Indian  habit  through  our  encamp- 
ments at  St.  John's,  and  had  given  a  plan  of  them  to  the 
General;  and  suppose  that  he  made  his  escape  with  the 
Indians,  which  were  at  St.  John's. 

This  account  is  according  to  the  best  of  my  remem- 
brance. If  it  shall  prove  of  any  service  to  detect  such  an 
enemy,  I  shall  be  glad  ;  if  not  my  intention  will,  I  trust, 
apologize  for  what  I  have  wrote."* 


(( 


Letters  from  Major  Rogers  to  General  lVashington.'\ 

Medford  (Porter's  Tavern), 

19  December,  1775. 
Sir:  I  sailed  from  Gravesend  the  4th  of  June  last,  in 
a  merchant  ship,  bound  to  Baltimore,  in  Maryland,  which 
was  at  the  time  I  came  away,  the  nighest  passage  I 
could  get  to  Philadelphia,  where  I  waited  on  the  gentle- 
men th?.t  compose  the  Continental  Congress,  in  order  to 
obtain  their  permit  to  settle  my  private  affairs,  being  much 
encumbered  with  debts,  chiefly  contracted  in  the  Province 
of  New  York  ;  in  which  settlement  my  brother,  Colonel 
J  mes  Rogers  who  lives  in  the  Province  of  New  York,  about 
twenty  miles  west  of  Connecticut  river  was  deeply  con- 
cerned, being  bound  for  me  in  several  sums  of  money, 
which  made  it  necessary  for  me  to  visit  him  in  my  way 
home  ;  and    for   that    purpose    came   by  the  way  of  New 

*  American  Archi-ves,  Fourth  Series,  iv,  159. 

f  American  Archives,  Fourth  Series,  iv,  265.      Spark's    Correspondence  of  tht 
Revolution. 

23 


264     journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 


York  and  Albany  to  my  brother's  and  from  thence  to 
Portsmouth,  to  my  wife  and  family  (a  pleasure  long  wished 
for),  having  been  six  years  in  Europe. 

I  have  taken  the  earliest  opportunity  that  would  per- 
mit to  come  to  this  town  (where  J  arrived  this  morning), 
in  order  to  lay  before  your  Excellency  the  purport  I  re- 
ceived at  Philadelphia,  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  there, 
a  copy  of  which  is  transmitted  at  the  bottom  of  this  letter, 
together  with  the  minutes  made  thereon  bv  the  committees 
of  safety  of  New  York  and  New  Hampshire.  I  do  sin- 
cerely entreat  your  Excellency  for  a  continuance  of  that 
permission  for  me  to  go  unmolested  where  my  private  busi- 
ness may  call  me,  as  it  will  take  some  months  from  this 
time  to  settle  with  all  my  creditors. 

I  have  leave  to  retire  on  my  half-pay,  an']  never  expect 
to  be  called  into  the  service  again.  I  love  North  Amer- 
ica ;  it  is  my  native  country  and  that  of  my  family,  and  I 
intend  to  spend  the  evening  of  my  days  in  it. 

I  should  be  glad  to  pay  you  my  respects  personally,  but 
have  thought  it  prudent   to  first  write  you  this  letter,  and 
shall  wait  at  this  place  for  your  Exctilency's  Commands. 
I  am.  Sir,  your  Excellency's  most 

Obedient  and 
most  humble  servant, 

Robert  Rogers. 

Letter  from   Brigadier  General  Sullivan  to   General  Wash- 
ington.* 

Camp  on  Winter  Hill, 

17  December,  1775. 
Much  Respected  General, 

Agreeably  to  your  orders,  I  have  again  waited  on  Major 
Rogers,  and  strictly  examined  him,  I  have  seen  his  several 


*  American  AreAivts,  Fourth  iieries,    iv,  300.     Spark's  Correspondence   of  the 
Revolution^  i,  196.  * 


s. 


'Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.      265 


hence   to 
ig  wished 

ould  per- 
morning), 
jort  I   re- 
fety  there, 
this  letter, 
ommittees 
I  do  sin- 
ce of  that 
•ivate  busi- 
,  from  this 

ver  expect 
arth  Amer- 
mily,  and  1 

onally,  but 
etter,  and 
)mmands. 


nt, 
Rogers. 

eral  H^ash- 

rliU, 

er,  1775- 

■d  on  Major 
his  several 

spondcnct  of  the 


permits,  and  think  them  genuine,  and  in  every  respect 
agreeable  to  the  copy  sent  you.  He  says  he  left  New 
Yo.''  about  the  10th  of  October,  being  ill  with  the  fever- 
and-ague,  was  ten  days  in  getting  to  Albany  ;  and  there,  and 
at  the  place  called  Stone  Arabia  [Lansingburgh]  he  tarried 
ten  days  more  ;  he  then  passed  through  Hoosick,  Stand- 
ford,  Draper  and  Hinsdale,  is  his  way  to  his  brother, 
who  lives  in  Kent  j  he  was  three  days  in  performing  this 
route,  and  tarried  with  his  brother  five  or  six  days  more  ; 
he  was  then  three  days  in  going  to  Westminister,  and  in  his 
way  passed  through  by  Dartmouth  College,  and  saw  Mr. 
Wheelock  ;  from  thence  he  went  to  his  farm  in  Pennicook, 
where  Vt  tarried  six  or  eight  days  ;  from  thence  he  went 
to  Newburg,  and  from  thence  to  Portsmouth,  and,  after 
tarrying  there  some  few  days,  laid  his  permit  before  the 
Committee  of  Safety. 

He  owns  everything  in  Mr.  Wheelock's  letter  except  that 
of  having  been  in  Canada,  which  he  warmly  denies,  and 
says  he  can  prove  the  route  he  took,  and  prove  himself  to 
have  been  in  the  several  towns  at  or  near  the  days  he  has 
mentioned.  I  asked  him  why  he  came  to  the  camp,  as  he 
had  no  business  with  any  particular  persons,  and  had  no 
inclination  to  offer  his  service  in  the  American  cause  ;  to 
which  he  said  he  had  voluntarily  waited  upon  the  committees 
of  several  colonies,  as  he  thought  it  a  piece  of  respect  due  to 
them,  and  would  probably  prevent  his  being  suspected  and 
treated  as  a  person  unfriendly  to  us ;  that  he  likewise 
thought  it  his  duty  to  wait  on  your  Excellency,  and  ac- 
quaint you  with  the  situation  of  his  affairs,  and  if  he  could 
to  obtain  your  license  to  travel  unmolested 

These,  Sir,  are  the  facts  as  handed  to  me  by  him.  What 
may  be  his  secret  designs  I  am  unable  to  say,  and  what 
steps  are  most  proper  to  be  taken  respecting  him  your  Ex- 
cellency  can  best  judge.     I  am    far  from  thinking  he  has 


266     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


been  in  Canada  j  but,  as  he  was  once  governor  of  Michi- 
limackinac,  it  is  possible  he  may  have  a  commission  to 
take  that  command,  and  stir  up  the  Indians  against  us,  and 
only  waits  for  an  opportunity  to  get  there  ;  for  which 
reason  I  would  advise,  lest  some  blame  might  be  laid  upon 
your  Excellency  in  future,  not  to  give  him  any  other  per- 
mit, but  let  him  avail  himself  of  those  he  has  ;  and  should 
he  prove  a  traitor,  let  the  blame  centre  upon  those  who 
enlarged  him.  I  beg  pardon  for  intruding  my  opinion,  and 
subscribe  myself, 

Your  Excellency  most  obedient  Servant 

John  Sullivan. 

Correspondence   between    General    IVashington    and  General 

Schuyler.  * 

General  Washington  in  writing  to  General  Schuyler, 
Dec.  i8,  1775,  informed  him  of  the  report  received  through 
Doctor  Wheelock,  concerning  the  visit  of  Major  Rogers 
to  the  camp  at  St.  John  in  the  disguise  of  an  Indian,  and 
requested  him  to  have  the  report  examined  into,  and  to 
inform  him  as  to  the  authenticity  or  probability  of  the  truth 
of  it.  He  was  then  in  xVlassachusetts,  and  might  be  ap- 
prehended if  any  circumstances  should  be  discovered  to 
induce  a  belief  that  he  was  there. 

To  this.  General  Schuyler,  on  th6  5th  of  January,  1776, 
in  writing  from  Albany,  replied  : 

"Since  the  receipt  of  your  Excelency's  of  the  i8th, 
Major  Rogers  is  come  to  this  town.  I  sent  to  him,  and 
amongst  a  variety  of  passes,  he  produced  a  late  one  from 
the  Committee  of  New  Hampshire,  to  pass  unmolested  to 
New  York,  for  which  place  he  sets  out  to  day.  I  believe 
there  is  no  truth  in  the  intelligence  sent  by  Mr.  Wheelock, 


*  Am.  Archivtif  4  Scr.  iv,  311, 


rs. 

•  of  Michi- 
mission  to 
inst  us,  and 
for  which 
le  laid  upon 
r  Other  per- 
and  should 
those  who 
pinion,  and 

rvant 

ULLIVAN. 

ind  General 


1  Schuyler, 
ved  through 
ajor  Rogers 
Indian,  and 
into,  and  to 
of  the  truth 
light  be  ap- 
iscovered  to 

luary,  1776, 

if  the  1 8th, 
to  him,  and 
te  one  from 
imolested  to 
I  believe 
,  Wheelock, 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     267 

for  I  find  upon    inquiry  that    Rogers   arrived  at   this  place 
after  St.  John  was   invested,  and   that   he  went  hence  to 

New  England."  * 

General  Washington  in  writing  to  General  Schuyler 
January  16,  1776,  alluded  to  Major  Rogers  as  follows  : 

*'I  am  apt  to  believe  the  intelligence  given  Dr.  Wheel 
ock,  respecting    Major    Rogers    was    not    true,  but    being 
much  suspected  of  unfriendly   views  to'this  Country,  his 
conduct  should  b-  attended  with  some  degree  of  Vigilance 
and  Circumspection."  f 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Lord  Germain  to  General  Howe. 

Lord  George  Germain,  in  writing  to  Major  General 
Howe,  under  date  of  January  5,  1776,  says: 

"  The  King  approves  the  arrangement  you  propose,  in 
respect  to  an  Adjutant  General  and  a  Quarter-master 
General,  and  also  your  attention  to  Major  Rogers,  of 
whose  firmness  and  fidelity  we  have  received  further  testi- 
mony from  Governor  Tryon,  and  there  is  no  doubt  you 
will  find  the  means  of  making  him  useful."  | 

Letter  from  Major  Rogers  to  the  President  of  the  New  York 

Provincial  Congress. 

New  York,  February  19,  1776.1 
Sir  :   Business  of  a  private   nature,   and   such   only   as 
respects  myself  and  creditors,  renders   my  attendance  on 
board   the   Dutchess   of  Gordon  indispengibly    necessary. 

*  li.  581.  Spark^s  fVasbington^  m,  243. 
f  lb,  695.  Spark's  Washington,  in,  208. 
J   Ameriein  Archives,  Fourth  Ser.,  iv,    575. 

^  Journals  of  New  Tork  Provincial  Congress,  11,  IZ5.    American  Archives, 
Fourth  Series,  iv,  1201  ;   lb.,  v,  291. 


268     Journals  (tf  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

As  I  am  soliciting  grants  for  several  tracts  of  land  within 
this  Province,  I  shall  be  obliged  frequently  to  attend  the 
Governor  and  Council  to  facilitate  those  grants,  I  shall 
be  greatly  obliged  to  you  if  you  w-'l  be  so  obliging  as  to 
mention  these  matters  to  the  gentlemen  of  the  Congress, 
in  order  that  1  may  obtain  a  permit  to  go  on  board  the 
Governor's  ship  at  any  time  when  my  business  ma*  require 
my  attendance. t    , 

I  am  Sir, 

Your  very  Humble  Servant 

Robert  Rogers. 
To  Colonel  Woodhull,  President  of  the 
Honourable  Provincial  Congress  for 
the  Province  of  New  York." 


f  The  series  of  Land  Papers  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State  at  Albany, 
contains  several  petitions  from  Major  Rogers  and  his  associates  for  grants  of 
land,  some  of  which  were  rejected,  and  some  approved  ;  but  too  late  to  be 
recognized  by  the  State,  which  has  in  its  Constitution  from  the  beginning 
declared  that  "  all  grants  of  land,  made  by  the  king  of  Great  Britain,  or  persons 
acting  under  his  authority,  after  the  14th  day  of  October,  1775,  shall  be  null 
and  void."  The  following  is  an  abstiact  of  all  the  papers  on  file  referring  to 
Roger's  claims  for  land  : 

On  the  loth  of  March,  1761,  Major  Robert  Rogers,  Dequipe,  Esa  Putnam, 
John  Miller,  Hugh  Miller,  Roger  Prince,  Francis  Doyne,  James  Osgood, 
Samuel  Osgood,  Ephraim  Dickison,  Daniel  Chase,  James  Miller,  David  Thomp- 
son, John  Taggart,  David  Hughes,  John  Herring,  Daniel  Miller,  Robert  Miller, 
James  Moores,  Daniel  Moores,  John  Evans,  David  Evans,  John  Shute,  Benjamin 
Osgood  and  Jonathan  Chace,  petitioned  for  a  grant  of  land  on  the  West  side 
of  Lake  George,  in  the  County  of  Albany, — beginning  at  the  garrison  lands  of 
Fort  William  Henry,  from  thence  running  west  two  miles;  thence  Northerly 
to  the  head  of  a  brook  called  Putnam's  Brook  that  falls  into  the  northwest 
Bay  of  Lake  George  ;  thence  easterly  to  a  place  called  the  First  Narrows  on 
the  said  Lake,  and  from  then'-e  along  the  lake  to  the  place  of  beginning — con- 
taining 25,000  acres  of  land,  including  the  islands  fronting  the  tract,  under 
quit-rents  restrictions  and  limitations  as  directed  in  his  Majesty's  Instructions. — 
Land  Papers,  xvi,  36. 

(Endorsed  May  27,  176 1  :  "  Read  in 

Council  and  granted,  and  warrant  of 
surrey  issued  dated  the  tame  day.") 


/. 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers,     269 


nd  within 
ttend  the 
I  shall 
;ing  as  to 
L^ungress, 
)oard  the 
a'  require 


OGERS. 


c  at  Albany, 
for  grants  of 
o  late  to  be 
le  beginning 
n,  or  persons 
;haU  be  null 
referring  to 

Lsa  Putnam, 
nes  Osgood, 
vid  Thomp- 
>bert  Miller, 
e,  Benjamin 
le  West  side 
son  lands  of 
:e  Northerly 
E  northwest 
Narrows  on 
ining — con- 
tract, under 
(ructions. — 


Journal  of  the  New  Hampshire  House^  7""«  25i  177^. 

"  Voted  to  choose  a   Committee  of  this  House  to  join 
a  Committee  of  the  Hon'ble  Board  to  confer  upon  the  ex- 

A  duplicate  of  this  petition  [Land  Papers,  xvi,  39),  bears  the  following 
agreement,  dated  New  V'orlt,  March  17,  1761,  and  signed  by  Robert  Rogers: 
"  It  is  agreed,  if  a  patent  is  obtained  for  this  tract  of  land,  being  copy  of  petition 
given  in,  th.it  Mr.  Alexander  Golden,  Mr.  Goldsborough  Banyar,  Mr.  Jacob 
Walton,  Mr.  Waddeil  Cunningham,  Mr.  Henry  White,  and  Mr.  John  Dies, 
all  of  New  Vork,  are  to  be  equally  concerned  in  the  land  granted  with  me, 
they  paying  third  part  of  all  expenses  and  charges,  and  assisting  all  in  their 
power,  in  obtaining  patents  for  said  Land." 

(A  letter  Irom  Mr.  Cunningham  to  Sir  William  Johnson,  dated  New  York, 
M^rch  I,  1762,  strongly  urges  this  claim  of  Major  Rogers,  and  .illudes  to  an 
order  from  the  Home  Governmertt,  that  would  stop  all  further  grants  of  land 
from  the  Government.  Mr.  Banyar  also  appear  '",  )m  this  correspondence  to 
be  deeply  interested  in  Roger's  behalf. — Johmon  M'    .,  v,  198.] 

A  petition  dated  January  22,  1776,  was  present  d  by  .Robert  Rogers,  in 
behalf  of  himself,  and  twenty-four  associates  nam<'a,  asking  for  a  grant  of  land 
in  Charlotte  Co  ,  between  Lake  George  an  '  -iudso.'i.  River  beginning  on 
the  west  side  of  Lake  Georgs  58  chains  N.  16°  W  fron.  hort  George,  and 
?. ;  ;hains  from  the  old  Fort  called  Fort  William  Menry  ;  thence  W.  160 
Chains;  thence  N.  51°  W  4*13  chains,  to  the  Hudsca  river;  thence  up  said 
river,  as  it  winds,  to  a  marked  t.ee  623  ch.iins  fr  :m  the  S.  bounds  of  this 
tract,  measured  on  a  course  runn'ng  north  from  said  South  bounds;  thence  £. 
352  chains  to  Lake  George,  and  alon.j;  said  lake  to  the  place  of  beginning — 
together  with  the  islands  fronting  said  lands,  containing  in  all,  25,000  acres, 
with  the  usual  allowances  for  roads,  etc.,  and  under  the  customary  quit-rents, 
provisoes,  limitations  and  restrictions, — and  that  the  same  be  erected  into  a 
township,  by  the  name  of  Mount  Rogers,  with  the  usual  privileges. 

This  petition  states  that  a  Warrant  of  Survey  dated  May  27,  1761,  had 
been  issued  by  Cadwallader  Colden,  then  President  of  the  Council  and  that  a 
return  of  this  survey  had  been  made  April  5,  1763,  by  Alexander  Colden,  then 
Surveyor  General  of  the  Province. — Land  Papers,  xxxv,  132,  Secretary's 
Office. 
(Endorsed  Feb.  26,  1776,  "Read  in 

Council  and  postponed  for  ftirther  consideration.") 

On  the  same  date,  Rogers  and  eight  associates  named,  addressed  a  petition 
to  the  Governor  in  which  he  stated  that  he  had  discovered  a  tract  of  vacant 
land  in  Albany  Co.,  between  lots  7  and  9,  of  the  Wosen  Hook  Claim,  and 
the  line  of  the  Manor  of  Rensselaer  Manner  proper,  containing  about  4,200 
acres,  being  lot  8,  surrendered  by  John  Van  Rensselaer  to  the  Crown  : — And 
also  another  taact  of  land  within  the  county  of  Charlotte,  on  the  east  side  of 


^-   1 


270     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers, 

pediency  of  securing  Major  Robert  Rogers  in  Consequence 
of  Sun-iry  informations  against  him  as  inimical  to  the  rights 

Hudson's  River,  beginning  at  the  S.  E.  cor.  of  a  tract  of  land  belonging  to 
Edward  and  Ebenezer  Jesbup  (opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Sacondaga  River), 
from  thence  Northerly  about  two  miles;  thence  easterly,  towards  Queensbury, 
about  one  mile  and  a  half;  thence  Southerly  about  four  miles;  thence 
Westerly,  about  two  miles,  to  the  South  bounds  of  the  said  tract,  and  from 
thence  to  the  place  of  beginning — the  two  tracts  containing  about  9,200 
acres  of  land,  with  usual  allowances  and  customary  quit-rents. — Land  Papers^ 
XXXV,  133. 
(Endorsed,  Jan.  29,  1776  :  "  Read  in 

Council  and  rejected,  the  prayer  being 

contrary  to  His  Majesty's  Instruction*.") 

On  the  same  date,  Rogers  individually  petitioned,  for  a  tract  of  vacant 
land,  known  by  the  name  of  "  Nipper  Moshee,"  in  Albany  Co.  ;  beginning 
on  the  N.  bounds  of  the  Manor  of  Rensselaerwyck,  at  the  S.  E.  cor.  of 
Pittstown  ;  thence  northerly,  on  the  E.  and  N.  bounds  of  said  Pittstown,  to 
the  N.  W.  cor.,  and  thence  from  the  E.  and  N.  lines  of  Pittstown,  easterly 
and  northerly  to  the  W.  and  S.  bounds  of  Hoosic  Patent, — including  all  the 
unpatented  lands  between  the  E.  and  N.  bounds  of  Pittstown,  and  the  W.  and 
S.  bounds  of  Hoosick,  being  about  4,000  acres  of  land. — Also  another  tract 
of  vacant  land,  bounded  westerly  by  the  E.  bounds  of  the  Township  of 
Cambridge,  easterly  by  lands  granted  to  Aaron  Van  Corlear  and  others, 
Southerly  by  lands  granted  to  reduced  officers,  and  northerly  by  lands  granted 
to  Ryer  Schermerhorn,  containing  about  800  acres  of  land,  in  Albany  Co. — 
Also  another  tract  of  vacant  land  in  Albany  Co.,  bounded  Westerly  by  Saratoga, 
Northerly  by  Cambridge,  and  Southerly  by  Hooseck  Patents,  containing  about 
100  acres, — being  in  all  5000  acres,  more  or  less.  To  this  grant  he  expressed 
the  belief  that  he  was  entitled  by  Royal  proclamation  dated  Oct.  7,  1763,  as 
compensation  for  services  during  the  late  war, — with  usual  allowances,  and 
customary  quitrents. 

To  this  petition  an  affidavit  was  appended,  declaring  that  he  had  not  re- 
ceived any  grants  of  land  as  a  reduced  Major,  under  the  above  proclamation, 
by  any  of  His  Majesty's  Governors  in  America. — Land  Papers,  xxxv,  136. 

(Endorsed,  Jan.  29,  1767  :  '*  Read  in  Council  and  rejected, 
as  to  the  first  tract,  it  having  been  prior  located  and 
petitioned  for,  and  the  petitioner  to  exhibit  a  map  certified 
by  the  Surveyor  General,  and  showing  the  second  and 
third  tracts  herein  prayed  for.")    • 

On  the  7th  of  December,  1775,  Major  Rogers  certified  that  Ensign 
William  Philips  had  served  under  his  command  in  the  late  war,  and  had  bc9n 
reduced  at  the  conclusion  thereof. — Land  Papers,  xxxv,  1  ji. 


sequence 
;he  rights 

lelunging  to 
laga  River), 
(Jueensbury, 
lies  ;  thence 
ct,  and  from 
ibout  9,100 
Land  Papers, 


:t   of  vacant 
. ;  beginning 
i.  E.    cor.    of 
Pittstown,  to 
own,  easterly 
uding  all  the 
1  the  W.  and 
another  tract 
Township  of 
and    others, 
lands  granted 
Albany  Co. — 
y  by  Saratoga, 
itaining  about 
t  he  expressed 
;t.  7,  1763,  as 
lowances,  and 

le  had  not  re- 
proclamation, 
XXXV,  136. 


that   Ensign 
and  had  bc«a 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     271 

and  Liberties  of  this  Country,  and  to  make  report  thereon 
to  this  House  as  soon  as  may  be  ;  and  that  Capt.  Harriman, 

On  the  22d  of  January,  1776,  Major  Rogers  as  agent  of  Mark  Noble, 
Thomas  Read,  Henry  Phillips  and  William  Phillips  petitioned  for  a  grant  of 
land  for  services,  adjoining  Rensselaerwick  on  the  North,  Pownell  on  the  east, 
the  Massachusetts  line  on  the  sonth  and  by  ea:>t,  and  Stephentown  on  the 
west,  coataining  about  8,000  acres  of  land.  —  Land  Papers^  xxxv,  131. 
(Endorsed  Jan.  29,  1776,  "  Read 

in  Council  and  granted.") 

On  the  6th  of  February,  1776,  Rogers  and  21  associates  named,  petitioned 
in  relation  to  a  grant  of  land  in  the  town  of  Hubbardton  on  the  Connecticut 
river,  previously  granted  (June  15,  1764),  by  the  Governor  of  New  Hampshire, 
and  containing  23,000  acres  of  land.  The  petitioners  stated  that  they  were 
owners  of  the  greater  part  of  the  said  townships. — Land  Papers,  xxxv,  137. 
(Endorsed,  Feb.  19,  1776,  "Read  in  Council  and 

granted — not  interfering  with   any  prior  grant. 

The  petitioner  to  produce   a  map  of  the  lands 

prayed    for,  certified    by  the  Surveyor    General 

prior  to  any  further  proceedings.") 

[See  also  in  relation  to  Hubbardton  Grant,  the  English  Colonial  MSS.,  CI., 
138  ;  Secretary's   Office.] 

A  similtr  petition  on  th*  same  date,  from  Rogers  and  21  other  associate*, 
prayed  for  the  grant  of  the  township  of  land,  previously  granted  by  the 
Governor  of  New  Hampshire,  June  17,  1764,  under  the  name  of"  Dunbar," 
which  they  asked  to  have  granted  under  the  name  of  Rogkrsborough. — 
Land  Papers,  xxxv,  138. 

(Endorsed,  Feb.  14,  1776,  "  Read  in  Council,  and 
granted  on  the  equity  herein  set  forth.  The 
Petitioners  to  give  bond  to  convey  to  the  persons 
claiming  Rights  in  the  said  pretended  grant  of 
"  Dunbar,"  their  respective  and  proportionable 
shares  in  the  within  mentioned  lands.") 

A  warrant  of  Survey  of  the  above  township  was  issued  to  Edmund  Fanning 
Surveyor  General  of  the   Province,  March    20,   1776. — Land  Papers,  xxxv, 

On  the  7th  of  February,  1776,  Rogers  and  23  associates  named,  petioned 
for  a  grant  of  land  on  the  east  side  of  Lake  Champlain,  previously  granted  in 
1763  to  Samuel  Willis,  Edward  Burling  and  others,  and  bounded  northerly  by 
Onion  River  westerly  by  the  Lake  by  common  land  and  easterly  by  Deerfield, 
containing  25,040  acres,  and  named  "  Rogerston." — Land  Papers,  xxxv,  139. 
(Endorsed,  Feb.  14,  1776  :   "  Read  in  Council  and 

rejected,  it  interfering  with  the  Canada  claimi.") 


( 


/' 


272     journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

Major  Philbrick   and  Mr.  Bell   be  the  Committee  of  this 
House  for  that  purpose."* 

On  the  id  of  July,  the  following  entry  was  made  on  the 
Journal  of  the  House: 

"  Whereas  it  is  strongly  suspected  that  M^jor  Robert 
Rogers  and  one  Samuel  Dwyer  are  inimical  to  the  Rights 
and  Liberty  of  Americans. 

Therefore  voted,  that  it  be  and  hereby  is  strongly  re- 
commended to  the  several  Committees  of  Safety  and  of 
Correspondence  in  this  Colony,  or  either  of  them.  That 
they  [take]  effectual  care  to  seize  the  bodies  of  the  said 
Samuel  Dwyer  and  Robert  Rogers  or  either  of  them  under 
proper  guard  and  convey  them,  or  either  of  them  to  this 
House  or  Committee  of  Safety  of  this  Colony,  as  soon  as 
may  be  for  examination. "f 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  General  JVa$h'tngton   to  the  Presi- 
dent of  Congress^  dated  June  27,  1776. 

"  Upon  information  that  Major  Rogers  was  travelling 
through  the  country  under  suspicious  circumstances,  I 
thought  it  necessary  to  have  him  secured.  I  therefore 
sent  after  him.  He  was  taken  at  South  Amboy,  and 
brought  up  to  New  York.  Upon  examination  he  in- 
formed me  that  he  came  from  New  Hampshire,  the 
country  of  his  usual  abode,  where  he  had  left  his  family  ; 
and  pretended  he  was  destined  to  Philadelphia,  on  business 
with  Congress. 

As  by  his  own  Confession  he  had  crossed  Hudson's 
River  at  New  Windsor,  and  was  taken  so  far  out  of  his 
proper  and  direct  route  to  Philadelphia,  this  consideration 

*  Provincial  Papers,  N.  H.,  viii,  163. 
f  State  Papers  New  Hampshire^  Tin,  185. 


:  ■ 


rs. 

tee  of  this 

lade  on  the 

jor   Robert 
the  Rights 

strongly  re- 
ety  and  of 
em.  That 
of  the  said 
them  under 
hem  to  this 
,  as  soon  as 

to  the  Presi- 
). 

,s  travelling 
mstances,    I 

I  therefore 
imboy,  and 
tioji  he  in- 
ipshire,    the 

his  family  ; 

on  business 

1    Hudson's 

•   out  of  his 

lonsideration 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     273 

added  to  the  length  of  time  he  had  taken  to  perform  this 
journey,  his  being  found  in  so  suspicious  a  place  as  Amboy, 
his  unnecessary  stay  there  on  a  pretence  of  getting  some 
baggage  from  New  York,  and  an  expectation  of  receiving 
money  from  a  person  here,  of  bad  character,  and  in  no  cir- 
cumstances to  furnish  him  out  of  his  own  stock,  the 
Major's  reputation,  and  his  being  a  half  pay  officer,  have 
increased  my  jealousies  about  him.  The  business  which 
he  informs  me  he  has  with  Congress,  is  a  secret  offer  of 
his  services,  to  the  end  that,  in  case  it  should  be  rejected, 
he  might  have  his  way  left  open  to  an  employment  in  the 
East  Indies,  to  which  he  is  assigned  ;  and  in  that  case  he 
flatters  himself,  he  will  obtain  leave  of  Congress  to  go  to 
Great  Britain. 

As  he  had  been  put  upon  his  parole  by  Congress,  I 
thought  it  would  be  improper  to  stay  his  progress  to 
Philadelphia,  should  he  be  in  fact  destined  thither,  I  there- 
fore sent  him  forward,  but,  to  prevent  imposition,  under 
the  care  of  an  officer,  with  letters  found  upon  him  which 
from  their  tenor,  seem  calculated  to  recommend  him  to 
Congress.  I  submit  it  to  their  consideration,  whether  it 
would  be  dangerous  to  accept  the  offer  of  his  services." — 
Sparc's  Life  and  IVritings  of  Washington^  ill,  440. 

Letter   from   the   President    of  the    Continental   Congress    to 

General  Washington. 

On  the  ist  of  July,    1776,   John  HancocK    President  qf 
Congress  wrote  to  General  Washington  as  follows  : 

"  Sir  :  I  wrote  you  by  the  express  on  Saturday  last,  since 
which  nothing  has  occured  worthy  of  your  notice.  The 
sole  reason  of  troubling  you  with  this  is  to  acquaint  you, 
that  in  consequence  of  your  orders  to  Captain  Peters,  he 
proceeded   with  Major   Rogers  to  this  city,  and   called  on 


274     journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 


m*  on  Saturday  last,  and  in  the  evening  of  that  day  I 
relieved  him  of  his  charge,  and  put  Major  Rogers  under 
guard  at  the  barracks,  where  he  now  remains,  the  Congress 
having,  by  a  particular  appointment,  haH  under  considera- 
tion a  momentous  matter  this  day,  which  prevented  their 
attention  to  Major  Rogers.  My  next  will  inform  you,  I 
hope,  of  some  very  decisive  measures."* 

Congress  in  a  communication  to  the  New  Hampshire 
Assembly,  July  6,  1776,  informed  them  that  Major  Rogers 
would  be  sent  to  that  state  to  be  disposed  of  as  that 
Government  should  judge  best.f  Upon  which  that  body 
appointed  Captain  Harriman,  Major  Philbrick  and  Mr. 
Bell  as  a  Committee  for  that  purpose. |  An  order  for  his 
arrest  was  voted,  as  also  of  one  Samuel  Dyer,  and  that 
effectual  measures  be  taken  to  seize  them,  or  either  of 
them  wherever  found  in  the  Colony,  and  to  bring  them  to 
the  House,  or  Committee  of  Safety  of  the  Colony  for  exam- 
ination.§ 

Before  he  was  sc  it  off  from  Philadelphia,  Rogers  found 
means  to  escape,||  and  found  his  way  to  General  Howe,  by 
whom  he  was  empowered  to  raise  a  battalion  of  Rangers.** 


*  American  jirchivts.     Fifth  Series,  i,  i. 
tl''»'»  33.  »36»  »S68. 
X  lb.  I,  7X. 
§  lb,  I,  80. 

II  A  reward  of  £50  was  offered  by  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  his  arrest. — 
lb.  I,  348,  1291. 

**  Gen.  Howe,  in  a  letter  dated  August  6,  1776,  wrote  : — "  Major  Rogers 
having  escaped  to  us  from  Philadelphia,  is  empowered  to  raise  a  battalion  of 
Rangers,  which  I  hope  may  be  useful  in  the  course  of  the  campaign." — Spari't 
Washington,  iv,  520. 

Governor  Tryon  in  writing  to  Lord  George  Germain,  Sept.  27,  1776,  says 
that  Major  Rogers  was  then  raising  a  Corps  of  Provincials  for  the  war 
generally. — N,  Y.  Colonial  History^  vili,  687. 


rs. 

that  day  I 
jgers  under 
e  Congress 
considera- 
ented  their 
"orm  you,  I 

Hampshire 
ajor  Rogers 
of  as  that 
b  that  body 
k  and  Mr. 
irder  for  his 
;r,  and  that 
or  either  of 
ing  them  to 
ly  for  exam- 

Logers  found 
il  Howe,  by 
■Rangers.** 


for  his  arrest. — 

-"  Major  Rogers 
ise  a  battalion  of 
paign." — Sparft 

.  ay,  1776,  says 
als  for    the    war 


journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     275 

It  appears  that  Rogers  lost  no  time  in  accepting  this 
appointment,  for  in  a  letter  from  William  Duer,  to  Gen. 
Washington  dated  at  Harlem,  Aug.  30,   1776.     He  says: 

"  I  have  likewise  to  inform  your  Excellency,  that  on 
yesterday  Morning,  one  Lounsberry,  in  Westchester 
County,  who  had  headed  a  body  of  about  fourteen  torics, 
was  killed  by  an  officer  named  Flood,  on  his  refusal  to 
surrender  himself  prisoner ;  that  in  his  pocket  book  was 
found  a  Commission  signed  by  General  Howe  to  Major 
Rogers,  empowering  him  to  raise  a  battalion  of  Rangers, 
with  the  rank  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Commandant  ;  that 
annexed  to  this  was  a  warrant  to  this  Lounsberry  signed  by 
Major  Rogers,  appointing  him  a  Captain  of  one  of  these 
companies,  as  likewise  a  muster-roll  of  the  men  already 
inlisted.— lb.  i,  789,  1236. 


APPENDIX  E. 
Correspondence    and    Statements   concerning   the 

ATTACK  UPON  LlEUT.   CoL.     RoGER's  PaRTIZAN  CoRPS 

AT  Mamaronec,  N.  y.,  October  21,  1776. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Colonel  Robert  H.  Harrison^  Secretary 
to  General  Washington,  To  the  President  of  Congress. 

Headquaters  White  Plains  25  October,  1776. 

*  *  *  On  Monday  night  a  detachment  of  our  men 
under  the  command  of  Colonel  Haslet  was  sent  out  to 
surprise  and  cut  off  Major  Rogers  if  possible,  with  his 
regiment  which  was  posted  there.  By  some  accident  or 
other  the  expedition  did   not  succeed   so  well  as  I  could 


2/6     Journals  of  Major  "Robert  Rogers. 

have  wished.  However  our  advanced  party  led  on  by 
Major  Green,  of  the  first  Virginia  Regiment,  fell  in  with 
their  out-guard,  and  brought  off  thirty-six  prisoners,  sixty 
muskets,  and  some  blankets.  The  number  killed  is  not 
certainly  known  ;  but  it  is  reported  by  an  officer  who  was 
there,  th^t  he  co  nted  about  twenty-five.  Our  loss  was 
two  killed  and  ten  or  twelve  wounded  ;  among  the  latter 
Major  (John)  Green,  whose  recovery  is  very  doubtful.*" 
Sparks  Life  of  Washington^  iv,  524. 

Extract   of  a   Letter  from    Colonel  fohn    Haslet^  to  General 
Ca far  Rodney^  dated  White  Plains^  N.  K,  Oct,  28,  1776. 

"  On  Monday  Night,  Lord  Sterling  ordered  me  out 
with  seven  hundred  and  fifty  men  to  attack  the  enemy's 
outposts  ten  miles  from  this  place  ,  at  the  village  of  Mam- 
aronec  ;  which  was  done,  and  their  guards  forced.  We 
brought  in  thirty-six  prisoners  a  pair  of  colors,  sixty  stand 
of  arms,  and  a  variety  of  plunder  besides.  The  party  we 
fell  in  with  was  Colonel  Rogers's,  the  late  worthless  Major. 
On  the  first  fire  he  skulked  off  in  the  dark.  His  Lieuten- 
ant, and  a  number  of  others  were  left  dead  on  the  spot. 
Had  not  our  guards  [guides?]  deserted  us  on  the  first  out- 
set, he  and  his  whole  party  must  have  been  taken.  On 
our  side  three  or  four  were  left  dead  and  about 
fifteen  wounded;  Among  the  latter  is  Major  Green  of  the 
second  Virginia  Regiment  wounded  in  the  shoulder  ;  and 
Captain    Rope    who  acted    as    Major,    and    behaved  with 

*Major  Green  recovered  and  subsequently  became  a  Lieutenant  Colonel. 

The  affair  it  mentioned  in  a  letter  from  Major  General  Greene  to  General 
Washington  dated  Oct.  4,  1776,  but  without  material  addition.  He  laments 
the  loss  of  Major  Greene,  who  is' mentioned  as  a  brave  officer,  and  mortally 
wounded. — Spark's  Official  Correspondence  of  the  Revolution,  i,  Z99. 

An  extract  from  a  letter  of  Gen.  Heath,  referring  to  the  above  affair,  is 
given  in  Bolton's  History  of  Westchester  Co.,  N.  T.  i,  ^ii. 


.f. 


Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers.     277 


led  on  by 
ell  in  with 
ners,  sixty 
iiled  is  not 
r  who  was 
jr  loss  was 
g  the  latter 
ioubiful.*" 


,  to  General 
f.  28,  1776. 

ed   me   out 
he  enemy's 
2;e  of  Mam- 
)rced.     We 
sixty  stand 
he  party  we 
iless  Major, 
lis  Lieuten- 
n  the  spot, 
le  first  out- 
aken.     On 
and    about 
reen   of  the 
aulder  j  and 
haved  with 

lant  Colonel, 
eene  to  General 
n.     He  laments 
and    mortally 

'99-  ^  .      . 

above   affair,  is 


great  bravery  wounded  in  his  leg ;  both  likely  to  recover. 
As  this  was  the  first  effort  of  the  kind,  and  a  plan  of  his 
Lordship's  he  was  so  highly  pleased  with  our  success,  that  he 
thanked  us  publicly  on  the  parade." — Spark's  life  of  tVash- 
ington,  IV.  526. 

The  following  account  of  this  affair  was  published  in  a 
Hartford  newspaper  of  the  day  : 

"On  Monday  last  (October  21st)  a  party  of  Tories 
(100),  Some  of  whom  came  from  Long  Island,  under  the 
command  of  the  infamous  Major  Rogers,  made  an  attack 
upon  an  advanced  party  of  our  Men,  when  a  smart  en 
gagement  ensued,  in  which  the  enemy  were  totally  routed. 
About  twenty  were  killed  on  the  spot,  and  thirty-six 
taken  prisoners  who  were  safely  lodged  in  the  goal 
at  White  Plains.  Their  gallant  (Commander,  with  his 
usual  bravery,  left  his  men  in  time  of  action,  and  made  his 
escape." — Stark's  Memoirs^  p.  389. 

Enlisting  orders  issued  by  Rogers  in  the  British  Service, 

Valentine's  Hill,  30  December,   1776. 

"  Whereas,  his  Majesty's  service  makes  it  absolutely 
necessary  that  recruits  should  be  raised,  this  is  to  certify 
that  Mr.  Daniel  Strang,  or  any  other  gentlemen  who  may 
bring  in  recruits,  shall  have  commissions  according  to  the 
number  he  or  they  shall  bring  in  for  the  Queen's  Amer- 
ican Rangers.  No  more  than  forty  shillings  bounty  is  to 
be  given  to  any  man  which  is  to  be  applied  towards  pur- 
chasing necessaries  to  serve  during  the  present  Rebellion, 
and  no  longer.  They  will  have  their  proportion  of  all 
rebel  lands,  and  all  privileges  equal  to  any  of  any  of  his 
Majesty's  troops.  The  officers  are  to  be  the  best  judges 
in  what  manner  they  will  get  their  men  in;  either  by  parties, 


278     Journals  of  Major  Robert  Rogers. 

detachments,  or  otherwise,  as  may  seem  most  advanta- 
geous i  which  men  are  to  be  attested  before  the  first 
Magistrate  within  the  Brstish  lines." 

Robert  Rogers, 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Commandant  of  the  ^een'i  Rangers. 

Strang,  who  had  the  above  paper  in  his  possession,  was 
taken  up  near  the  American  Camp  at  Peekskill.  He  was 
tried  by  Court  Martial,  and  making  no  defence  was  con- 
demned to  suffer  death,  on  the  charge  of  holding  corres- 
pondence with  the  enemy,  and  lurking  around  the  camp  as 
a  spy.     General  Washington  approved  the  sentence.* 

Extract  from  a  Letter  of  Governor  Irumbull^  of  Connecticut ^ 
to  Colonel  Livingston^  dated  October  13,  1776.* 

"  1  have  received  intelligence  which  I  believe  may  be 
depended  on,  that  Major  Rogers,  now  employed  by  Gene- 
ral Howe,  and  who  you  know  was  a  famous  partisan  or 
ranger,  in  the  last  war,  is  collecting  a  battalion  of  Tories 
on  Long  Island,  and  that  he  proposes  soon  to  make  a 
sudden  attack  in  the  night  on  Norfolk,  to  take  the  con- 
tinental stores,  and  lay  waste  the  town.  I  hjpe  we  shall 
be  able  to  frustrate  his  designs.  I  have  no  need  to  ap- 
prize you  of  the  art  of  this  Rogers,  He  has  been  a 
famous  scouter,  or  woods-hunter,  skilled  in  waylaying, 
ambuscade,  an(!  sudden  attack.  I  dare  say  you  will  guard 
against  being  surprised  by  his  or  any  other  party." 

*  Spark's  fF'asAingtott,  iv.  520. 

*  Spark's  ffashington,  iv.  125. 


TS. 


»st    advanta- 
re   the    first 

IS, 

I  Rangers. 

session,  was 
II.  He  was 
ce  was  con- 
Iding  corres- 
the  camp  as 
itence.* 

f  Connecticut^ 
1776.* 

ieve  may  be 
|red  by  Gene- 
i  partisan  or 
on  of  Tories 
n  to  make  a 
ake  the  con- 
i.ipe  we  shall 
I  need  to  ap- 
:  has  been  a 
in  waylaying, 
ou  will  guard 
irty." 


INDEX. 


^BBOTT,  James,  255. 

Abbot,  Nathaniel,  appointed 
a  lieutenant,  55. 
notice  of,  55. 
Abercrombie,  Maj.  Gen., 
succeeds  Gen.  Shir- 
ley, 54- 
mentioned,  56,  62,65, 

74,  135. 
^apt.    James,    65,   71, 

74,    77^    89,    118^, 
119. 

Acheson,  R.,  republishes 
Rogers' Journals,  10. 

Albany,  Troops  rendezvous 
at,  28. 

commissioners  meet  at, 

71- 
rangers   to  rendezvous 

at,  46,  47. 
interview  appointed  at, 

55. 
Gen.    Abercrombie   at, 

56. 

Lord  Loudoun  at,  c8, 

86. 
troops  winter  at,  65. 
Rogers  goes  to,  74. 


Albany,  rangers  return  to.76, 

77.  78. 
mentioned,    152,    154, 
158. 
Alexander,  William,  45. 
Algiers,  Rogers  in,  14,  262. 
American     Archives    cited, 
259.  260,  261,  263,' 
264,   266,  267,  274. 
Amherst    Gen.   Jeffrey,  75. 
at  Louisburg,  91,  124! 
letters  from,  134,  151^ 

}sz^  155. 

orders  from,  140,   169 

177. 

sends    Rogers    to    De- 
troit, 175. 

Amonsook  River,  143,  144 
146. 

Amoskeag  Falls,  79. 

Amhara  Magog  Lake,  143. 

Ancestry  of  Rogers,  5. 

Anecdote  of  Rogers  in  Eng- 
land, 14. 

Andover,  Mass.,  N.  Abbot 
born  at,  55. 

Andia-ti-roc-ie,  (Lake 

George)  27. 


f ' 


280 


Index, 


Arrest  of  Rogers,  14. 
Atherton,  240. 
Atianderogoe,  31,  32. 
Attawawas,  157,  158,  187. 
Author's  Introduction,  22. 
Avery,  Ensign,  141, 144. 

Robert,  killed,  72, 
Ayer,      Ebenezer,      remin- 
iscence by,  6. 

"DABEF,  M.,  196. 

Baker,  Mr.  66,  68,  killed, 

72. 
Bald  Mountain,  loi. 
Barnard,  Francis,  82. 
Barrager,  Capt.,   193,  196. 
Bay  of  Fundy,  Rangers  sent 

to,  78. 
Bayley,   Col.   Jacob,  notice 
of,  49. 
Col.  Jonathan,  212. 
Bayley's  regiment,  49. 
Beam  regiment,  ii8fl. 
Beaver  Creek,  202. 

town,  201. 
Bedel,  Col.,  263. 
Beletere,  M.,  French  com- 
mandant at   Detroit, 
letter  of  Rogers  to, 
189. 
rumor     of     opposition 

from,  190,  191, 
reply  of,  192,  194. 
M.  sent  to  Philadelphia, 
197. 


Bell,  Mr.,  274. 
Best,  Mr.,  servant    of,  cap- 
tured, 92. 
Beverly,  Serjeant,  156. 

sent   to  Gen.  Murray, 
161. 

Billings,  Capt.  Roger,  35. 
Blanchard,  Joseph,  30. 
Blodget,  Samuel,  suttler  at 
Fort  William  Henry, 

79. 
"  Bloody  Fight  "  account  of, 

97- 
French  account  of,  100. 

Blue  Mountains,  1 18. 

Boarbier,   M,,   sent  up    the 
Ottawa,  158. 

Boats    destroyed    on     Lake 
Champlain,  53. 
found,  89. 

Bolton,  Islands  in   Narrows 
in  the  town  of,  94. 

Bolton's  Westchester  cited, 
.     276. 

Bonapart,  Rogers  compared 
with,  21. 

Bonjour,  John,  82. 

Bonville,      M.,     156,     171. 
pursued,  172, 

Boom    across    Lake  Cham- 
plain,   138. 

Boston,  Gen.  Shirley  at,  45, 
46. 
_  Lord  Loudoun  at,  66. 


Index. 


281 


:   of,  cap- 

156. 
.  Murray, 

'ger*  35- 

1,  30- 
suttler  at 

am  Henry, 
account  of, 

mt  of,  100. 

118. 

;nt  up    the 
58. 
on    Lake 

i>53- 

n   Narrows 
m  of,  94. 
ester  cited, 

s  compared 

\2. 
156,     171. 
172. 

,ake  Cham- 
8. 
irley  at,  45, 

3un  at,  66. 


Bouquet,    Col.,  account    of 

expedition  by,  printed 

10. 
mentioned,  184. 
Bouton,  Rev.  N.,  cited,  98, 

99,  161. 
Boyce,  Richard,  81. 
Braddock,     Gen.     Edward, 

killed,  45. 
Bradford,  Capt.,  259. 
Brassier's  map,  cited,  27,  54. 
Brehm,     Lieut.      Diedrick, 

129,    175,  178,  189, 

192,   196. 
Brest,  troops  from,  64. 
Brewer,  Capt.   David,  103, 

I37>   139,  152,  154. 
178,  183,   184,   185, 

186,  198. 

Ensign  of  Rangers,  55. 

Bridge,  Mr.,  82. 

Broadstreet,     Lieut.     Col., 

118. 

attacks  Fort  Frontenac, 

124. 

Brown,  Thomas,  72.    • 

Browne,  Elizabeth,  marries 

Rogers,  9. 

Buckley,  Lieut  ,  70. 

Lieut,  of  Rangers,  55, 

76. 

Capt.,  77,   93,    killed, 

96. 

Burbank,  Jonathan,  Ensign 

of  Rangers,  55,  56. 


Burbank,  Capt.,  113,  117, 
118^,  135. 

Burgin,  Capt.  of  New  Jersey 
Rangers,  55,  77. 

Burnham,  Mark,  verbal  in- 
formation from,  19. 

Burning  of  harvests  pro- 
posed, 58. 

Burnside,  Thomas,  wound- 
ed, 72. 

Burton,  Col.,  Indians  under, 

.■  57- 

instructions       expected 
from,  60. 

Bushy  Run,  battle  of,  11. 
Butler,  B.  C.,  cited,  101. 

Lieut.,  197. 
Butterfield,     Jonathan,    re- 
port from,  34. 

(^AHILL,  John,wounded, 
^         72. 
Campbell,  Angus,  81. 
Archibald,  81. 
Archibald,  Jr.,  81. 
Lieut.,  93,  149. 

killed,  103. 
Capt.,   184,    185,   186, 
187,   196,  197,  198. 
Major,  170. 
Canadians  sworn  to  British 
allegiance,   173, 

Cankusker  Bay,  94. 

Cape  Breton  captured,  124. 


282 


Index, 


Cap  Francois,  letter    from, 

234,  236. 
Carillon,  meaning  of  word, 

54-. 
mentioned,  54,  59,  60, 

63,  64,  87,  103. 

Carleton,  Gov.    Guy,  256, 
263. 

Carruthers,  Francis,  81. 

Carrying  Place,  32,  48,  49. 

Carver,  Jonathan, cited,  122, 
mentioned,  239. 

Cattle   killed,    43,    48,   57, 
89,  167. 

Chalmer,  Mr.,  61,  62. 

Chamblee,     troops     assem- 
bling at,  53. 
burned,  167,  168. 

Champlain,  cited,  54. 

Character  of  Rogers,  18,  ig. 

Charlestown,         "  Number 
Four,"  47. 

Chcrokees,  Rogers  serves 
in  an  expedition 
against,  9. 
country,  proposed  his- 
tory of  an  expedition 
into,  12. 

Chibucto  Harbor,  77. 

Chimney  Island,  175. 

Chippawaes,  251. 

Chogoge  River,  187. 

Christopher,  Mr.,  81. 

Claims  of  Rogers  upon  New 
Hampshire,  210. 


Clarke,  John,  81. 

Claus  Daniel,  to  Sir  Wm. 

Johnson,  251. 
Clerk,-  Mr.,   the   engineer, 

119. 
Cleveland,    Rogers    arrives 

at  the  site  of,  187. 
CofEn    Charles,    letter    to, 

19. 
Cochran,  Capt.,  241. 
Cohase       Intervales,      144^ 

146,  147,  149. 
Cold  Country  Indians,  157. 
Columbie,  Mons.,  64. 
Commission,      from     Gen. 

Abercrombie,  11 1. 
ofSir  William  Johnson, 

203. 
from  James  De  Lancey, 

mentioned,  206. 
Commissioners      meet      at 

Albany,  41. 

Conesadagu,  178. 

Connor, — 35, 

Convoys,  plan  for  intercept- 
ing, 154. 

Coos  Co. — 49. 

Intervales,  14.6. 

Court  of  Inquiry  held,  240. 

Coyhavagu,  178. 

Crafton,  Edward,  82. 
Lieut.,  93,  97,  98. 

Crainahe,  Mr.   H.  T.,  249. 

Craven,  Major,  41. 

Crawley,  Andrew,  80. 


Sir  Wm. 
151. 
engineer, 

rs    arrives 
of,  187. 
letter    to, 

>4i. 

les,      144, 
149. 

dians,  157. 
,  64. 

om     Gen. 
bie,  III. 
n  Johnson, 

DeLancey, 
,  206. 
meet      at 
I. 


r  intercept- 


46. 

held,  240. 

,  82. 

I.  T.,  249. 

V,  80. 


Index, 


283 


Creed,  Francis,  81,  93. 

Crofton,  Walter,  80. 

Croghan,     Mr.,    184,    185, 
187,  223. 

Crown    Point,  Rogers   sent 
to   bring    a    prisoner 
I  from,  26. 

I  mentioned,  27,  28,  29, 

(^  58159167. 

\\  closely     observed,    33, 

i  34- 

)  uncertainty        as        to 

strength  of,  39,  40. 
Scouts  sent  to,  42,  43, 

44. 
remains  of  a  village  at, 

44. 
reconnoitered,  48. 
military  movement   at, 

51. 
boats  pass,  52,  53. 

party  sent  to,  56,  57. 

strength  of,  64. 

site  of  a  battle  in  town 

of,  70. 
evacuated,  138,  139. 
Rogers      winters      at, 

151. 
plan  for    reduction    of, 

201. 

Cunningham,  Mr.,  125, 126. 
Curgill,  Lieut.,  149. 
Cushing,  Capt.  Seth,  43. 
Cuyohoga  River,  187, 


"TJ'AVENNE  Sicur,ment- 

*-^         ioned,  102. 
Dalyel,  Capt.,  Rogers  serves 

und  r,9, 
DalyelKCapt.  James,  122. 
Darcy,  Lieut.,  165,  166. 
Darby,  Col.,  169,  1 70,  171, 

173. 
Dartmouth,   near     Halifax, 

troops  encamped  at, 

77- 
Davis,  Robert  A.,  letter  of, 

19. 

Lieut.,  178. 

Mr.  at    Niagara   Falls, 

183. 

Debecourt,  M.,  no. 

Debeline,     Mons.,    attacks 

"  Number      Four.  " 

47- 
De    Courgne,    M.,  account 

by,  122. 
Delceson,  D'hainfans,  82. 
De  Lancey,  Col.,  120. 
Dcpostion     of       Nathaniel 

Potter,  230. 
Derivier,  Mr.,  226. 
Detroit,   Rogers    serves    at, 
under  Capt.  Dalyel,9. 
fragment   of  a  journal 

of  siege  of,  13. 
Rogers  sent  to,  175. 
surrendered  to  the  Eng- 
lish, 197. 


284 


Index. 


D'llbecourt,  M.,  lOO. 

Discipline  of  Rangers,  82. 

Dieskau,  Baron,  taken  pris- 
oner, 26,  64. 

Distrust  of   Roger's  loyalty, 
16. 

Divorce    of    Mrs.    Rogers, 
252. 

Doquipe,  (a  Mohegan)  128. 

Doriel,    M.,  account  given 
by,  123. 

Draper,  265. 

Drought,  Thomas,  81. 
William,  81. 

Duer,  Wm.,  275. 

Dunbar,  Lieut.,  150. 

Dunbar's  Party,  149. 

Dunbarton,    N.   H.,  settle- 
ment of,  6. 

Dunham,  Col.,  41. 

Dunstable,  45. 

Durkee,      Lieut.      Robert, 
122. 

Dutch  Crown  Point,  27. 

Dutchess  of  Gordon,  (ship) 
267. 

Dwyer,  Samuel,  272. 

t'AST  Bay,  121. 

Eastman,  Joseph,  161. 

Stitson,  99. 
Edlington,  Richard,  80.     • 
Edmonds,  John,  killed,  72. 
Ervin,.Will,  81. 
£vans,^Serjeant,  149. 


Eyers,  Lieut.,  122. 
Eyre  Capt.,  209. 

T7ALLS  at  outlet  of  Lake 
^  George      examined, 

61,  62. 
Farmer,     Thomas,     killed, 

Farrington,  Lieut.,  149. 
Fatalism,  maxim   of,   73. 
Fishing,     modes      of,    180, 

181. 
Fisk,  Samuel,  killed,  72. 
Fitch,  Asa,  cited,  71. 
Col.,  117,  118,  179. 
Mr.,  of  Conn.,  41. 
Fitzherbert,  Mr.,  256,  257. 
Flag  of  truce,  115. 
Fletcher,  Capt.,  37. 

Lieut.  John,  153. 
Fort    Ann,    IC5,   106,  107, 
121. 
Chamblee,  Rogers  sent 

to,  i6o. 
du  Bouf,  184. 
Edward,     26,  40,    41, 
47.  48,  49>  60,  62, 
65,  66,   71,  75,  76, 
76,  11,  79.  80,  82, 
86,112,115,121,123, 
125,  126,  132,  133. 
Levis,  175. 
Niagara,  182. 


Sc.  Frederick, 


27. 


orders  for  reduction  of, 
206. 


Index, 


285 


122. 

39. 

utlet  of  Lake 
examined. 


mas. 


killed, 


eut.,  149. 
m   of,   73. 
es     of,   180, 

killed,  72. 
ed,  71. 
118,  179. 
onn.,  41. 
>.,  256,  257. 
115. 

•.37. 
hn,  153. 

5,  106,  107, 

,  Rogers  sent 

[84. 

26,  40,   41, 

,  49,  60,  62, 

lU  75,  76, 

79,  80,  82, 

115,121,123, 

6,  132*  133- 

82. 

ick,  27. 
reduction  of, 


Fort  William  Augustus,  175, 
178. 
William  Henry,  41,  42, 
45.  47'  48,  49,  50» 
52.  56,  57,  58,  59i 
60,  61,  62,  63,  64, 
65,  66,  70,  76,  77, 
79,  80,  115,  116. 

Frazier  William,  81, 
Jr.,  81. 

French  Creek,  184. 
Freyburg,  45. 
Frisborough,  Mr.,  81. 
Frontenac,  Gen.  Montcalm 
at,  60. 

captured,  124. 

site  of,  179. 
Fuller,  Capt.,  221. 

r^  AGE,  General  Thomas, 

^^       cited,  13,    letters    of 

Johnson       to,     215, 

222,    224,    227,  242, 

247,  252.  Letters 
to      Johnson,     223, 

mentioned,  134,  135. 

Col.,  76. 

Major  Moncrieffe, 

letter  to,  218. 

Galloo  Island,  179 
Gamelin,  Mens.,  176,  177. 
Gardner  Rev.,  killed,  68,  72 
Gaspe  Bay,  troops  arrive  at, 

157- 


Gatenois,  French  taken  from, 

»97.  _ 

Germain,     Lord,    to    Gen. 

Howe,  267. 

Gillis,  Mr.,  62. 

Giddings,  Capt.,   122. 

Glasier,     Col.     B.,    orders 

from,  42,  44. 

Goddard,    Mr.,    239,    253, 

254. 

Goodwin,  Luxford,  161. 

Grace    of    Man,    River    so 

called,  180. 

Graham,  John,  81. 

Grant,  Allen,  81. 

Capt.,  instiuctions  to, 

165. 

Col,  112. 

Gen.,     Rogers     serves 

under,  10. 

mentioned,  160,  168. 

Lieut.,    144,  148- 

Noah,  36,  38. 

Green,  Major,  276. 

Greene,  Gen.,  276. 

TT  ACKET,  Serjeant,  165. 

Haldimand,  Col.,    120,  128, 

^33- 
Half-way  Brook,   116,  121, 

129. 
Halifax,  troops  sent  to,  77, 

78. 
Hall— a  Ranger,  158. 


'  ,  1 


286 


Index, 


\ 


Hamilton,  Mr.,  8i. 
Hancock,  John  to  Washing- 
ton, 273. 
Hanson,  John  R.,  237,  241. 
Hardy,  Sir  Charles,  33,  41. 
Harriman,  Capt.,  271,  274. 
Harrison,   Col.    Robert   H", 

275- 
Dr.,  261. 

Haslet,  Col.,  276. 

Haverhill,  263. 

Haviland,  Colonel,  82,  86, 

87,92,  93,136,  151, 

170,  171,  173. 
Hay,    Chief    Justice,    234, 

250. 
Hazen,  Capt.  John,  175. 
Heath,  Gen.,  276. 
Henry,  Sergeant,  62,  72. 
Hensey,  Robert,  255. 
Hewson,  Thomas,  killed,  72. 
Hill,     Gov.      Isaac,     letter 

from,  19. 
James,  81. 
Hillsborough,    Earl    of,    to 

Johnson,  249. 
Hobbs,    Capt.    of  Rangers, 

55,  65,  66,  76. 
Holbourn,  Admiral,  78. 
Holland,  Capt.,  262. 
Holmes,  Mr.,  153. 

Lieut.,  118,  !6i,   162, 

166,   168,  169,   183, 

184,  185,  i86,  212. 
Hoosick,  265. 


Hopkins,  Col.,  Letter  from 
in  West  Indies,  234, 
mentioned  244,  250, 
252. 
Horst,  Engelbertus,  82. 
Howard,  Joseph,  227.1 

Serjeant  Jon.,  killed, 
72. 

Howe,    Lord,  accompanies 

the  Rangers,  80. 

reception  Hy,  1 1  r,  112, 

mentioned,     114,    115, 

116,   117,   118,  119, 

274,  278. 

to  Earl  of  Dartmouth, 

261. 
letter  to,  267. 
Humbles,  Charles,  80. 
Humphrey,  David,  36. 
Hunt,  Capt.  Samuel,  32. 
Huron  Indians,  190. 

TCE,  exhibition  on  the,  42. 

Indian  trade  at  Michili- 
mackinac,  13. 

Rogers  early  acquaint- 
ance with,  25. 

at  Crown  Point,  28,  29. 

pass  in  bark  canoe,  31. 

number  of  with  French, 
40. 

Mohawks,  58. 

Stockbridge  in  service, 
57,60,61. 


Letter  from 
Indies,  234, 
244,  250, 


tus,  82. 
J,  227.1 


on., 


killed. 


accompanies 

gers,  80. 

iy,  III,  112, 

,     114.    115, 
7,   118,  119, 

i. 

■  Dartmouth, 

267. 
les,  80. 
vid,  36. 
imuel,  32. 
190. 

)n  on  the,  42. 

at      Michili- 
ic,  13. 

rly  acquaint- 
th,  25. 

Point,  28,  29. 
rk  canoe,  31. 
"with  French, 

,  58. 

ye  in   service, 
61. 


Index, 


287 


Indian   trade,    interview    at 

Cuyahoga,  187,  188. 

Instructions      from       Lord 

Loudon      to       Capt. 

Rogers,  90. 

of  volunteers  as  rangers, 

82. 
for    the    reduction     of 

Crown  Point,  206  . 
to    Rogers,    com'dt    at 
Mich  ilimackinac, 
216. 
Introduction,  author's,  23. 

editor's,  3. 
Irwin  Will,  81. 
Isle  Aux    Noix,   159,  162, 

165,  168,  170. 
de  Galette,  179. 

la     Motte,     159,    165, 

166,  167,  170. 

of  Orleans,  157,  162. 
Royale,  175. 

TACK'S     QUARTERS, 
J  [Jacques        Cartier,] 

168. 
Jackson     Andrew,     Rogers 
compared  with,  21. 
Capt.,    map    of,    cited, 

94,   131- 
Jacob,  Capt.  (an  Indian)  61, 

113,  114,   116,   133, 

134. 
Jacobs,    the    two   Captains, 
188. 


Janel,  John,  255. 
Jealousies  presumed,  36. 
Jenkins,  Lieut.,  150. 
Jequipe,  Mr.,  186. 
Je.sies,    Rangers   raised    in, 

77. 
Jogue,  Father,  27. 

Johnson,  Noah,  45,  47. 

appointed       lieutenant, 

55- 
Capt.,    150,   153,  155. 

wounded,  164. 

Sir    William,    25,    27, 

29,  3^  32,  33»  34, 
37»  3^1  39i  41,  so, 
57,  119,  201,  209, 
213,  to  258. 

Joncaire  Chabert,  249. 

Jones,  Col.,  252,  253,  255. 

Jugglery,  Indian,  100. 

I^ALM,  Peter,  27,  44. 

Kemble,   David,  72. 

Kemp,  Phineas,  killed,  72. 

Kennedy  —  Lieut,  of   Ran- 
gers, 55,  65,  66,  68, 
killed,  72,  73. 
Capt.  134,  158,  263. 

Kent,  265. 

Michael,  8r,  93. 

Killed    and     wounded,    lists 
of,  72,  10?,  103. 

Kingston,  Mr.,  256. 

Knowles,  Sir  Charles,  47. 


288 


Index, 


m 


T   A  CFIINE,  178. 

La  Durantaye,  M.,  100. 
La  Fleur,  of  Detroit,  175. 
La  Force,  M.,  169. 
La  Galette,  159. 
Lake  Champlain,  expedition 
on,  51. 

map  of,  mentioned,  54. 

French  troops  seen  on, 

56,  57- 
nnmber      of      French 

boats  on,  60. 
party  sent  to,  61. 
Lake  George,  French  under 

Dieskau         defeated 

near,  26. 
named    and    described, 

27. 
French  advanced  guard 

at,  31. 
expedition    on    skates, 

expedition  on,  56. 

troops  sent  on,  61. 

mentioned,  66. 
Land  claims  of  Rogers,  268. 
Languedoc  regiment,  64. 
Laporta,     Emanuel,    killed, 

79. 
La  Pierre,  173. 

La  Reine,  regiment,  ii8fl. 
Larnard,     Capt.,    of  '  Pro- 
vincials, 56,  57. 
Lawrence  town,  78. 


Le  Corn,  Mons.,  64. 

Lejonong,  French  officer, 
114. 

Leslie,  Lieut.,  196. 

Levi,  Conte  de,  at  Carillon, 
60. 

Levy,  M.,  64,  156,  157, 
168. 

Livingston  Co.,  Gov.  Trum- 
bull to,  278. 

Londonderry,  N.  H.,  Rog- 
ers born  at,  6. 

Long  Island,  Lake  George, 
132. 

Longee,  M.,  French  parti- 
san, 79,  158. 

Longville,   173. 

Lorette,  157. 

Lotridge,  Capt.,  of  Mo- 
hawks, 128, 130. 

Loudon,  Lord,  58,  60,  62, 
66,  11,  74,  76,  80, 
82,  86,  89,  90,  III. 

Louisburg,     expedition     to, 
78. 
four  companies  ot  Ran- 
gers sent  to,  91. 

Lovewell's  fight,  45. 

Loyalist  services  of  Rogers, 

17; 
Lyman,  Col.,  36,  117,  ii8tf, 

209. 

Lyme,  262. 

Lyshat,  Mr.,  80. 


IS.,  64. 
rench    officer, 

196. 
e,  at  Carillon, 

4,    156,    IS7> 

.,Gov.Trum- 
,  278. 

N.  H.,  Rog- 
n  at,  6. 
Lake  George, 

French    parti- 

'3- 

ipt.,    of     Mo- 
,  128,130. 
d,  58,  60,  62, 

I,  74.  7^^  80, 
j,  89,  90,  III. 
expedition     to, 

ipanies  of  Ran- 
ent  to,  91. 

ght,  45- 

ices  ot  Rogers, 

,36,  117,  ii8fl, 


,  80. 


Index, 


289 


lyr'BEAN,  Donald,    82. 

McCormick,     Lieut.,    152, 
183,   196,   198,  202. 

McCurdy,  Lieut.    John,  of 
Rangers,  36,  55,  56, 

McDonald,  Archibald,  82. 
Ensign,    93,    96,    97, 
killed  103. 

McDougal,  Jonathan,  81. 
McGee,  Mr.,  sent  to  Shaw- 

nese  town,  197. 
McMullen,  Lieut.,  149. 
Mamaronec,    Rogers'  party 

captured,  17,  275. 
Map   of     Lake    Champlain 

mentioned,  54. 

Marvin,  M.,  121. 
Marriage  of  Rogers,  9. 
Martin,   Joshua,    prontioted, 

■     71- 

Serjeant,  wounded,  72. 

Masure,  Scipiode  la,  59. 

Mau'-epas,  Frederick,  27. 

Memphramagog  Lake,  143. 

Mc:nzies,  Charles,  81. 

Mecurial  medicines,  252. 

Miame,  French   taken  from, 
197. 

Michilimackinac,        Rogers 
commands  at,  13,  15. 
to  be  occupied  by  En- 
glish, 176. 
Rogers    first    visit    to, 
198. 


Michilimackinac  conduct  of 

Rogers  at,  213  to  258. 
Millet,  Thomas,  80. 
Millan,  J.,  publisher,  12. 
Mingo   Cabbins,  184,  2oO. 
Mississagua     Indians,    180, 

181. 
Misisque     Bay,     140,    145, 

146. 
Mohawk  River,   a    scouting 

party    sent    up   the, 

55- 
troops   returned    from, 

60. 
Indians,  58,  130. 
join  the  Rangers,  128. 
Mohegan  Indians,  116,  128, 

186. 
Monkton,  Brig.  Gen.  Rob- 
ert, 176,  177,  182. 
Monongahela,      battle     of, 

45. 
Monro,  Colonel,  76. 

Monsel,  Mr.,  8i. 

Montcalm,  Marquis  de,  54, 
60,  63,  64,  79,  87, 
88,  loi,  116,  117. 

Monter,   Capt ,  185. 

Montreal,  Rogers  brought  a 
prisoner  to,  14. 
troops   expected    from, 

59- 
boats  passing  to,  60. 

Moore,    Lieut.,   93. 

killed,  102. 


290 


Index* 


Morris,     Mr.,     of     Penn- 
sylvania, 41. 
William,  72. 
Morrison,   John,  72. 
Morristown,  262. 
Morton,  Joshua,  70. 
Motives    for  publication    of 

journals,  22. 
Murray,       General,       158, 
160,   161,  162,  163, 

173- 

Murder  o\   a   wounded  pris- 
oner, 9. 

Muskingum  River,  200,  201. 

NT  ARROWS,  66,  70,94, 
■•-^       113. 

Newburg,    Col.  Bayley  set- 
tles at,  49. 
New    Hampshire    not    rep- 
resented    in    a    con- 
vention  at     Albany, 
41. 
Rangers,  55. 
claims  of  Rogers  upon, 

210. 
extract    from    journals, 

269. 
Rogers  banished  from, 
18. 
New   Orleans,   French    re- 
tire to,  158.   ' 
Rogers  designs  to  desert 
to  French  at,  13. 
New  Windsor,  272. 


New   York,   troops   winter 
at,  65. 
troops  sent  to,  77. 
committee    of     safety, 
260,  264. 

Niagara,  carrying  place  177. 
Rogers  arrives   at,  183. 
Falls,     survey     taken, 
183. 

Nicholls,  Col.,  part  of  reg- 
iment attacked,  121. 

Nicholson,  Mr.,  81. 

Norfolk,  278. 

North  West  Bay,  94. 

Nova  Scotia,  Rangers  in, 
78. 

Number  Four,  (Charles- 
town,  N.  H.)  47, 
126,  139,  142,  143, 
146,  147,  148,  149, 
158. 

NunnipatJ  (a  Mohegan),  128. 

Nut  Island,  156,  158,  160. 

QGDEN,  Capt.,  43, 144, 
^^       149,  154,  155. 

wounded,  143,  148. 
Ogden's  Mount,  42. 
Ogilvie,  John,  cited,  102,. 
Ohio      Indians,     expedition 

against,  noticed,  10. 
Old  Style  calendar,  27. 
Onderoga  or  Ticonderoga. 
Oraconenton  Isle,  175. 
Ord,  Lieut.   Col.,  169,  170. 


troops   winter 

• 

;nt  to,  77. 

ee    of     safety, 

264.. 

■ying  place  177. 

arrives   at,  1S3. 

survey     taken, 

ol.,  part  of  reg- 

t  attacked,  121. 

Mr.,  81. 

8. 

t  Bay,  94- 

ia,   Rangers   in, 

Four,  (Charles- 
n,  N.  H.)  47, 
,  139,  142,  143' 
,  147,  148,  H9» 

a  Mohegan),  128. 
i,  156,  15B,  160. 


Sf,  Capt.,  43, 144, 

),  154,  155- 
ided,  I43>  140- 
Vlount,  42. 
ohn,  cited,  102. 
idians,     expedition 
ainst,  noticed,  10. 
caltendar,  27. 
I  or  Ticonderoga. 
iton  Isle,  175. 
:ut.  Col.,  169,  170. 


Index, 


291 


Orders  for  a  scout,  30. 
Oswegachi,  157,  179. 
Oswego,  45,  59,  137,  189, 
214. 

Ottawawa  Indians,  88. 
Otter  River,  150. 
Otway's  regiment,  deserters 
from,  60. 

TDAGE,  Caleb,  Ensign, 24, 
^         55,     56,     66,     68, 

killed,  72. 
notice  of,  56. 
David,  wounded,  72. 
Palmer,  —  262. 
Parkman,     Francis,     cited, 

178,  187. 
Parnell,      Serjeant,     killed, 

102. 

Parole  of  Rogers,  259. 
Partizan    Corps    of   Rogers 

dispersed,  275. 
Partridge,  Col.,  122. 
Peterson,  Walter,  81. 
Pennicook,  N.  H.,  55,  149, 

265. 
Pennsylvania  committee  of 

safety,      258,      260, 

261,  262,  264. 

Perry,  Charles,  81. 
Peters,  Capt.,  273. 
Philbrick,  Major,  274. 
Philips,  Lieut.  William,  93, 

95»     97,     98,     ii4» 
notice  of,  98. 


Phillips,    wife  of,  joins  the 

Shakers,  99. 
Phillips,  Serjeant,  68. 
Pittsburgh,  45,  184,  198. 
Point  de  Tremble,  157. 
Point  Levy,  156,  157,  162. 
Pontiac's      siege,       Rogers 

serves  in,  9. 
ambassy  from,  187. 
Porter,  Obadiah,  24. 
Portrait  of    Major    Rogers 

described,  7. 
Portsmouth,  Arthur  Rogers 

dies  at,  18. 
Potter,     Anthony,      Joseph 

and  Richard,  99. 
Mr.,    224,    225,    228, 

229,  230,  253. 
Potter's    Hist,    of    N.    H., 

cited,  46. 
Pottinger,  Lieut.  James,  82, 

93,  killed,  103. 
Pouchot      memoirs,     cited, 

79,  89,99,  175. 
Poupao,  Joseph,    175,    176, 

^11- 
Pouteotame    notion,     many 

die  of  small  pox,  79. 
Pouviet,  Lieut.,  mentioned, 

102. 
Presque  Isle,  176,  184. 
Prisoners,    accounts     given 

by,  59,  64,  88,  114. 
Proby,  Major,  120. 
Programme   of  a  work   by 

Rogers,  11. 


292 


Index, 


■3 

■ 

1 

1 

/ 

Provost,  Col.,  123,  253. 
Putnam,   Capt.    Israel,   32, 

34'  36,  37.  3^*  92. 

»  93- 
Major,  121. 

Ensign  Timothy,  32. 
Putney,   Joseph    and  Will- 
iam, 24. 

QUEBEC,      troops     ar- 
rive at,  59. 
intention      to     retake, 

156,  157. 
besieged,  159. 
Queen's     Rangers,   Rogers 
a  Lieut.  Col.  Comdt. 
in,  17,  278. 
Quodoa,  Isle  of,  162. 

■p  ANGERS  left  at  Fort 
-■^       William  Henry,  41. 

instructions  of,  46,  82. 

pay  of,  46,  74. 

a  company  raised,  55. 

under  Captains  Spike- 
man  and  Hobbs,  65. 

sent  from   Albany,  76. 

recruited,  78. 

return  to  Albany,  78. 

sent    to    Halifax,    77, 

78. 
incompetent,  82. 

to  be  increased,  89. 

Reed,  Capt.  Francis,  103. 

Reinhault,  Erick,  82. 


Revolution,  Rogers  at  begin- 
ing  of,  14. 
double  dealing  of 
Rogers  at  beginning 
of,  17. 
Rogers  did  not  return 
to  live  in  States 
after,  20. 

Reynolds,  or   Ranger,   158. 

Rivington,  James,  to  Sir 
Wm.  Johnson,  257. 

Roach,  (see  Roche) 

Robber,  Rogers  arrests  a, 
14. 

Roberdeau,  Col,,  259. 

Roberts,  Mr.,  80. 

Lieut.  Benj.,  221,  224, 
234,  237,  238,  247, 
248,  253,  255,  256, 
258. 

Robertson,   Alexander,    81. 
John,  81. 

Roby,  Luther,  prints  a  con- 
densed edition  of 
Rogers'  Journals,  1 1. 

Roche,  John,  marries  di- 
vorced wife  of  Rogers, 

9- 
Rodney,  Gen.  Ceasar,  276. 

Rogers,      Arthur,     son     of 

Robert,  18. 
James,        father        of 

Robert,  5. 
James,  24,  65,  66,  68, 

73>  '03»  2163- 


Tcrs  at  begin- 

4-  . 

dealing       or 

at  beginning 

d  not   return 
in      States 

5. 

Ranger,   158. 

mes,    to    Sir 

ohnson,  257. 

3che) 

rs   arrests     a, 

)1.,  259. 
80. 

nj.,  221,  224, 
37,  238,  247, 
53'  255.  250. 

lexander,    81. 

,  prints  a  con- 
edition  of 
5'  Journals,  1 1. 
,  marries  di- 
wife  of  Rogers, 

.  Ceasar,  276. 
thur,  son  of 
•t,  18. 

father        of 

rt,  5. 

24,  65,  66,  68, 

03,  263. 


Index. 


293 


Rogers,  Lieut.  Richard,  45, 

^47.48,  55- 
Capt.  Richard,  60,  65, 
66,  71,  76,  death  of, 

79- 
Robert,  ancestry  of,  5. 

marriage  of,  9. 

youth  of,  5,  23. 

hardihood  of,  20. 

winters  at  Lake  George, 

41. 
autograph  of,  43. 
accused  of  crime,  46. 
Capt.   of  Rangers,  55. 
wounded,  72. 
commended,  73. 
goes  to  Albany,  74. 
recruits    men,    for    his 

company,  74. 
sick  with  small  pox,  76. 
suits  against,  76. 
letter    of  to  French  at 

Ticonderoga,  89. 
paying  ofF national  debt, 

92. 
attacked  by  French,  96, 
mentioned    in    French 

accounts,  98,  to  102. 
rank  as  Major,  136. 
letters    to    Gen.     Am- 
herst, 152. 
letter  to  Capt.  Beletere, 

196. 

settlement     of     claims 
upon  N.  H.,  210. 


conduct  of  at  Michili- 
mackinac,     213     to 
258. 
letter  to  Johnson,  220, 

258. 
conduct    in     America, 
prior  to  Revolution, 
258. 
letter    to  Gen.    Wash- 
ington,   263. 
to  Pres.  N.  Y.  Provin- 
cial   Congrtss,   267. 
attack  on  partisan  corps 

of,  275. 
Robert,  banished  from 
New  Hampshire,  18. 
dtath  of,  18. 
Rogers'  Slide,  101. 
Rope,  Col.,  276. 
Ross,  Andrew,  81. 

ensign,  93,  95. 
Ruggles,  Gen.,   170. 
Rules  for  ranger  service,  82. 
Rutherford,  Major,  41. 


CABBATHDayPoint,94, 
*^         118,  129,  131. 
St.  Clair,  Sir  John,  41. 
St.  d'Etrese,  surprised,  166. 
St.  Francis   Indians,  treach- 
ery of,  140. 

expedition,  against,  140. 

report  of,  141. 

French     account       of 
burning  of,  142. 


•  <  '    3 


294 


Index. 


St  Francis  Indians  men- 
tioned, 162. 

St.  Johns,  48,  58,  139,  159, 
172,  173,  263,  266. 

St.  Lawrence,  ships  on  the, 
60. 

St.  Patrick  affair,  80. 

St.  Sacrament  Lake,  27. 

San  Domingo,  descendants 
of  Rogers  living  in, 
18. 

Sandusky,  189. 

Sandy  Bay,  132. 

Saratoga,  57,  60. 

Saw  Mill,  building  at 
falls,  62. 

Schitzcook,  troops  sent   to, 

Schloser,  John,  82. 
Schonn  creek,  1 13. 
Schuyler,  letter  to,  266,  267. 

Col.  Peter,  41. 
Scott,  Major,   153. 
Sentinel,  captured,  63. 
Sharp,  Mr.  of  Maryland,  41. 
Shakers       at      Canterbury, 

N.  H.,  99. 

Shawnese    Town,     French 

troops     taken     from, 

198. 

Shedoir  [Chaudiere]    River, 

Shelburne,  Earl  of,  letter  of 

Johnson  to,  225,242. 

Sheppard,    Capt.,    63,   77, 


Shirley,    Gereral,    27,    39, 

4i»  45i  50»  54»  57» 
205,  206. 

Shute,  Jacob,  161. 

Shute,  John,  161. 

Mr.,  reminiscence  of  a 

battle  by,  70. 
Simcoe,  Lieut.  Colonel,  17. 
Sinclair,  Sir    John,   sends  a 

volunteer,  61. 
Sioux,  251. 
Small   Pox,  great    mortality 

from,  54,  78,  79. 
Solomon       (a      Stockbridge 

Indian),  155. 
Sorcery,  divination  by,  100. 
South  Amboy,  272. 
South  Bay,  30,  50,  52,  60, 

105,  io6,    107,    108, 

113,  116,  121,  130. 
Sparks,    &J?j.,  commanding 

at  Fort  Edward,  71. 
Spark's   Jared,  Washington, 

cited,  267,  279. 
correspondence  of  Rev- 
olution,   cited,    263, 

276,  277. 
Spiessmacher,  Lieut.  F.  C, 

237,  240. 
Spikeman,  Capt.  of  Rangers, 

55,  65,  66,  67,  68, 

71,  killed,  72,  73. 
Stanford,  265. 
Stanwix,  Gen.,  Information 

from,  126. 


Index, 


«95 


39' 

57» 


:ral,    27, 

1  50,   54> 
06. 

161. 
61. 

iniscence  of  a 
by,  70. 
.  Colonel,  17. 
John,   sends  a 


eer. 


61. 


reat    mortality 

■54»  78,  79- 
I      Stockbridge 

')»  155- 

laiion  by,  100. 

I,  272. 

;o,  50,  52,  60, 
[06,  107,  108, 
[6,  121,  130. 
.,  commanding 
rt  Edward,  71. 
d,  Washington, 
267,  279. 
ndence  of  Rev- 
n,    cited,    263, 

277- 

,  Lieut.  F.  C, 

240. 

apt.  of  Rangers, 

>5,  66,  67,  68, 

ilied,  72,  73. 

5- 

:n.,  information 

,  126. 


Stark,  Archibald,  grantee, 
24. 

Caleb,  Jr.,  book  edited 
by,  II,  92. 

John,  Lieut,  of  Ran- 
gers ;  mentioned,  47, 

48,  55.  56.  58,  60, 
65,  66,  67,  68,  70, 
71.  — Captain,  77, 
99,    103,    113,    114, 

iJ9>  133^  135,  139, 
152.    154. — General 

opinion    of    Rogers, 

16.        Life    of,    II. 

memoirs,    cited,   70, 
^  79.  80,  277. 
Capt.  William,  152. 
Starkstown,  former  name  of 

Dunbarton,    N.   H., 

6,  24. 
Steadman,   257. 
Stephans,     Lieut.     Samuel, 

126,  147,  150. 
Stephens  Joseph,  killed,  72. 

Simon,  82. 
Sterling,  Hugh,  82. 
Sterling,  Lord,  45,  276. 
Stevens,      Capt.      Phineas, 

defends      "  Number 

Four,"  47. 
Still,  Mr.,  81. 
Stockbridge  Indians,  57,  60, 

61,  126,    134,    155, 

161,  164. 
Stone  Arabia,  265. 


Stuart,  Mr.,  adjutant  of 
Rangers,  155. 

Sullivan,  Gen.,  to  Washing- 
ton, 264. 

Suncook,  149, 

Syms,  Col.,  41. 

"F  AKUNDAWIDE  Bay, 
132. 

Tate 239. 

Tenney,  Ebenezer,  99. 

ThoTias,  Col.,  170. 

Thomson,  Charles,  259. 

Tianaroga,  34. 

Tiantiroga,  50. 

Ticonderoga,  28,  30,  32, 
33>  38.  39»  40,  45, 
48,  49.  50,  5I1  52, 
54,  56,  57,  59,  61, 
63,  65,  67,  80,  89, 
118,  124. 

Tiondroque,  29. 

Toronto,  181,  182,  245. 

Townsend,  M.  B.,  engage- 
ment near  residence 
of,  70. 

Townsend,  Col.,   letter  to, 

125. 
Townshend,  R.  (D.  A.  G.), 

127. 
Col.,  killed,  138. 

Trepezec,  M.  de,   118. 
Troops  sent    to  serve  with 
Rangers,  80. 


"     '     .'     V 


296 


Index, 


Trumbull,    Gov.,    to   Col. 

Livingston,  267,  278. 
Tryon,  Gov.,  261,  274. 
Turner,    Lieut.,    141,  149, 

150. 
Tutc,    Lieut.   James,    130, 

150,  151,  158. 

T  JNCAS,    King,    address 
^  to,  127. 

A  7AISAC,    France,    pris- 

*  oner  born  at,  59. 

Van  Bebber,  Henry,  82. 
Van  Wormer's  Bay,  132. 
Vaudreuil,      M.     de,     156, 

174. 
Venango,  184. 
Village,  burned,  43,  44,  57, 

59- 
on   east   side    of  Lake 

Champlain,  47. 

'IXT'ACKERBERG,   An- 
^^  drews,  82. 

Wait,  Ensign,  93,  96,  152. 
captain,  152,  175,  178, 
185,  198. 
Walker,  Serjeant,  68. 
Walters,  Major,  176,  177. 
Wampum  beli3,  128. 
Ward,  Nicholai,  3i. 
Wardoman,  George,  82. 
Washington:,    Gen.    Rogers 
writes  to,  17,  273. 


Washington,  to  Gen.  Schuy- 
ler, 266,  267. 
mentioned,    261,    263, 
264. 

Watson,  W.  C,  History  of 
Essex  Co.,  44,   loi, 

Wattockquotchey  Falls, 
148. 

Wawnawapeteoonks,  (Capt. 
Jacob),  113. 

Weatherhead,    John,     237, 

253'  255- 
Webb,  General   Daniel,  79, 

116. 

Wentworth,  Gen.,  letter  to 
mentioned,  41,  52. 

Westminster,  265. 

Whale  boats,  51,  115. 

Wheelock,  Pres.,  to  Wash- 
ington, 261,  265, 
266,  267. 

White,  Ensign,  93,  95,  96. 
killed,  103. 
Plains,  276. 

Wigwam,  Martinique,  143, 

160,  168. 
Wilcox,  John,  81. 
Williams,  Capt.,  130,  131, 

133'  H'l  H5- 
Wilson,  Ensign,  165. 
Windmill  Point,  165. 
Winslow,  Gen.,  52,  56. 
Wood,       Ensign,        killed, 

164. 


t  -' 


Index, 


297 


Gen.  Schuy- 

267. 
261,    263, 

.,  History  of 
o.,  44,  loi, 
ey         Falls, 

lonks,  (Capt. 

John,     237, 

5- 

1  Daniel,  79, 

len.,  letter  to 
ied,4i,52. 
165. 

;i,  115. 
;s.,  to  Wash- 
261,      265, 

>7- 

,  93»  95»  96- 

3- 

76. 

rtinique,  143, 

,  81. 

)t.,  130,   131, 

in,  165. 
It,  165. 
n.,  52,  56. 
>ign,        killed, 


Wood    Creek,    Fort     com- 
manding, 30,  60. 
Woodall,  Benj.,  72. 
Wounded  prisoners  killed,  9. 
Wrightson,  John,  81,  93. 


Wraxall,        Peter,      orders 

signed  by,  30. 
Wyandot  Indians,  199,  201. 

yOUNG,  Mr.,  81. 


